Loss of O-antigen increases cell shape abnormalities in penicillin-binding protein mutants of Escherichia coli.
Escherichia coli mutants lacking multiple penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) produce aberrantly shaped cells. However, most of these experiments have been performed in E. coli K12 strains, which do not attach a complete O-antigen to their outer membrane lipopolysaccharide. We constructed mutants in different genetic backgrounds and found that the frequency of morphological deformities was higher in strains lacking the O-antigen. Also, complementing O-negative mutants with a heterologous O-antigen from Klebsiella returned a substantial fraction of misshapen cells to a normal morphology. Thus, the O-antigen contributes to cell shape in E. coli, perhaps by reducing the number of ectopic poles, which may be the proximal cause of shape abnormalities.
Ghosh
Anindya S
AS
Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, WB, India.
Melquist
Amy L
AL
Young
Kevin D
KD
D001665:Binding Sites; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007709:Klebsiella / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation; D019081:O Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D019081:O Antigens; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins