title: The biosynthesis and biological role of lipopolysaccharide O-antigens of pathogenic Yersiniae.
abstract: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is the major component of the outer leaflet of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. The LPS molecule is composed of two biosynthetic entities: the lipid A--core and the O-polysaccharide (O-antigen). Most biological effects of LPS are due to the lipid A part, however, there is an increasing body of evidence indicating that O-antigen (O-ag) plays an important role in effective colonization of host tissues, resistance to complement-mediated killing and in the resistance to cationic antimicrobial peptides that are key elements of the innate immune system. In this review, we will discuss: (i) the work done on the genetics and biosynthesis of the O-ags in the genus Yersinia; (ii) the role of O-ag in virulence of these bacteria; (iii) the work done on regulation of the O-ag gene cluster expression and; (iv) the impact that the O-ag expression has on other bacterial surface and membrane components.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Central Hospital Laboratory Diagnostics, P.O. Box 63, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland. mikael.skurnik@helsinki.fi
authors.forename: Mikael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Skurnik
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bengoechea
mesh_terms: D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism; D008050:Lipid A / Q000737:chemistry; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D005810:Multigene Family; D019081:O Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013696:Temperature; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014774:Virulence; D015007:Yersinia / Q000378:metabolism*; D015008:Yersinia enterocolitica / Q000378:metabolism; D015010:Yersinia pestis / Q000378:metabolism; D015011:Yersinia pseudotuberculosis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008050:Lipid A; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D019081:O Antigens; D010455:Peptides; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial