Characterization and biological role of the O-polysaccharide gene cluster of Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:9

J Bacteriol. 2007 Oct;189(20):7244-53. doi: 10.1128/JB.00605-07. Epub 2007 Aug 10.

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / genetics
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
  • Bacterial Proteins / physiology
  • Biosynthetic Pathways / genetics
  • Complement System Proteins / immunology
  • DNA, Bacterial / chemistry
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial / physiology
  • Gene Deletion
  • Gene Order
  • Glycosyltransferases / genetics
  • Hexosamines / genetics
  • Humans
  • Microbial Viability
  • Models, Biological
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Multigene Family*
  • Operon
  • Polymyxin B / pharmacology
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial / genetics
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial / physiology*
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Yersinia enterocolitica / genetics
  • Yersinia enterocolitica / physiology*

Substances

  • 4-formamido-4,6-dideoxymannose
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Hexosamines
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial
  • Complement System Proteins
  • Glycosyltransferases
  • Polymyxin B

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AJ605741