title: Influence of deletions in the apoemulsan gene cluster on A. venetianus RAG-1 polysaccharide biosynthesis.
abstract: Apoemulsan is a biopolymer with potent emulsification activity, produced by Acinetobacter venetianus RAG-1 (RAG-1). The wee gene cluster is responsible for apoemulsan biosynthesis. The analysis of (i) a putative polysaccharide copolymerase mutant (wzc), (ii) a putative polymerase mutant (wzy), and (iii) an apoemulsan-deficient variant (2) indicated that the wee gene cluster controls the synthesis of two polysaccharides: high molecular weight (HMW) and low molecular weight (LMW). LMW polysaccharide of wee origin was present in LPS isolated from RAG-1 cells, suggesting a link to the Lipid A-core of LPS molecules. SDSPAGE analysis indicated that apoemulsan is copurified with LPS polysaccharide, with implications in the emulsification activity of RAG-1 polymer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical and Biological Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St., Medford, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dams-Kozlowska
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Mercaldi
authors.forename: Aruranie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramjeawan
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Kaplan
mesh_terms: D000150:Acinetobacter / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017353:Gene Deletion; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005810:Multigene Family; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: C019362:EF-RAG; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial