title: Characterization and biological role of the O-polysaccharide gene cluster of Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:9.
abstract: Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:9 is a gram-negative enteropathogen that infects animals and humans. The role of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in Y. enterocolitica O:9 pathogenesis, however, remains unclear. The O:9 LPS consists of lipid A to which is linked the inner core oligosaccharide, serving as an attachment site for both the outer core (OC) hexasaccharide and the O-polysaccharide (OPS; a homopolymer of N-formylperosamine). In this work, we cloned the OPS gene cluster of O:9 and identified 12 genes organized into four operons upstream of the gnd gene. Ten genes were predicted to encode glycosyltransferases, the ATP-binding cassette polysaccharide translocators, or enzymes required for the biosynthesis of GDP-N-formylperosamine. The two remaining genes within the OPS gene cluster, galF and galU, were not ascribed a clear function in OPS biosynthesis; however, the latter gene appeared to be essential for O:9. The biological functions of O:9 OPS and OC were studied using isogenic mutants lacking one or both of these LPS parts. We showed that OPS and OC confer resistance to human complement and polymyxin B; the OPS effect on polymyxin B resistance could be observed only in the absence of OC.
authors: Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, Finland. mikael.skurnik@helsinki.fi
authors: Mikael
authors: M
authors: Skurnik
authors: Marta
authors: M
authors: Biedzka-Sarek
authors: Peter S
authors: PS
authors: Lübeck
authors: Tea
authors: T
authors: Blom
authors: José Antonio
authors: JA
authors: Bengoechea
authors: Camino
authors: C
authors: Pérez-Gutiérrez
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Ahrens
authors: Jeffrey
authors: J
authors: Hoorfar
mesh_terms: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000235:genetics; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D053898:Biosynthetic Pathways / Q000235:genetics; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology; D017353:Gene Deletion; D023061:Gene Order; D016695:Glycosyltransferases / Q000235:genetics; D006595:Hexosamines / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D050296:Microbial Viability; D008954:Models, Biological; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D009876:Operon; D011112:Polymyxin B / Q000494:pharmacology; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D015008:Yersinia enterocolitica / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C098054:4-formamido-4,6-dideoxymannose; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D006595:Hexosamines; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D016695:Glycosyltransferases; D011112:Polymyxin B
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