Cell surface of Lactococcus lactis is covered by a protective polysaccharide pellicle

J Biol Chem. 2010 Apr 2;285(14):10464-71. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M109.082958. Epub 2010 Jan 27.

Abstract

In Gram-positive bacteria, the functional role of surface polysaccharides (PS) that are not of capsular nature remains poorly understood. Here, we report the presence of a novel cell wall PS pellicle on the surface of Lactococcus lactis. Spontaneous PS-negative mutants were selected using semi-liquid growth conditions, and all mutations were mapped in a single chromosomal locus coding for PS biosynthesis. PS molecules were shown to be composed of hexasaccharide phosphate repeating units that are distinct from other bacterial PS. Using complementary atomic force and transmission electron microscopy techniques, we showed that the PS layer forms an outer pellicle surrounding the cell. Notably, we found that this cell wall layer confers a protective barrier against host phagocytosis by murine macrophages. Altogether, our results suggest that the PS pellicle could represent a new cell envelope structural component of Gram-positive bacteria.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Adhesion
  • Bacterial Capsules / chemistry*
  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Carbohydrate Sequence
  • Cell Wall / chemistry*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chromosomes, Bacterial
  • Lactococcus lactis / metabolism*
  • Macrophages / metabolism*
  • Macrophages / microbiology
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Phagocytosis / physiology*
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial / chemistry*
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial / metabolism*
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial / ultrastructure

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial