title: 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.
abstract: 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.
authors: Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, CBD Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK. prior_jo@hotmail.com
authors: J L
authors: JL
authors: Prior
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Parkhill
authors: P G
authors: PG
authors: Hitchen
authors: K L
authors: KL
authors: Mungall
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Stevens
authors: H R
authors: HR
authors: Morris
authors: A J
authors: AJ
authors: Reason
authors: P C
authors: PC
authors: Oyston
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Dell
authors: B W
authors: BW
authors: Wren
authors: R W
authors: RW
authors: Titball
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D019081:O Antigens