title: Recent advances in studies on structure and symbiosis-related function of rhizobial K-antigens and lipopolysaccharides.
abstract: Exopolysaccharides (EPSs) and K polysaccharides (K-antigens, capsular polysaccharides, or KPSs) are important for the recognition of the symbiotic partner and the infection process, whereas lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) may function at a later stage of symbiosis. Recently, considerable progress has been made in the structural investigation of rhizobial K-antigens and LPSs. This structural data, together with the availability of more and more mutant data, allows new insights into the structure-function relationships of surface polysaccharides and the mode of their action on host cells. This review focuses on rhizobial LPSs and K-antigens. It gives a condensed overview of the recent developments in analysis of their structures and roles during symbiosis.
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl für Genetik, Fakultät für Biologie, Universität Bielefeld, Postfach 100131, D-33501 Bielefeld, Germany. Anke.Becker@Genetik.Uni-Bielefeld.DE
authors.forename: Anke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fraysse
authors.forename: Larissa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sharypova
mesh_terms: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000382:microbiology*; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D005810:Multigene Family; D012231:Rhizobium / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D013559:Symbiosis
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000954:Antigens, Surface; C030659:K antigens; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides