The failure of different strains of Yersinia pestis to produce lipopolysaccharide O-antigen under different growth conditions is due to mutations in the O-antigen gene cluster.
The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from eight strains of Yersinia pestis which had been cultured at 28 degrees C appeared to be devoid of an O-antigen when analysed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. LPS isolated from three of these strains which had been cultured at 37 degrees C also appeared to be devoid of an O-antigen. When the LPS from Y. pestis strain CO92 was purified and analysed by matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry, the observed signals were in the mass range predicted for molecules containing lipid A plus the core oligosaccharide but lacking an O-antigen. The nucleotide sequence of Y. pestis strain CO92 revealed the presence of a putative O-antigen gene cluster. However, frame-shift mutations in the ddhB, gmd, fcl and ushA genes are likely to prevent expression of the O-antigen thus explaining the loss of phenotype.
Prior
J L
JL
Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, CBD Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK. prior_jo@hotmail.com
Parkhill
J
J
Hitchen
P G
PG
Mungall
K L
KL
Stevens
K
K
Morris
H R
HR
Reason
A J
AJ
Oyston
P C
PC
Dell
A
A
Wren
B W
BW
Titball
R W
RW
D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D005810:Multigene Family / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation; D019081:O Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D013696:Temperature; D015010:Yersinia pestis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development
D019081:O Antigens