title: Biosynthesis and production of polysialic acids in bacteria.
abstract: Polysialic acids (PA) are protective capsular sialohomopolymers present in some bacteria which can invade the mammalian host and cause lethal bacteremia and meningitis. Biosynthesis and translocation of PA to the cell surface are equivalent in different species and bacterial strains which are produced. The diversity in PA structure is derived from the PA linkages and is a consequence of the specific sialyltransferase activities. The monomer acetylation and the polymer length could be important factors in the potential virulence. In vivo PA production is affected by different physical and chemical factors. The temperature of cellular growth strictly regulates PA genesis through a molecular complex and multifactorial mechanism that operate to transcription level.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología Molecular, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana, 24071, León, Spain. ma.ferrero@unileon.es
authors.forename: Miguel Angel
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ferrero
authors.forename: Leandro Rodríguez
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Aparicio
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012794:Sialic Acids / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013696:Temperature; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D012794:Sialic Acids; C021319:polysialic acid