Identification of EcpK, a bacterial tyrosine pseudokinase important for exopolysaccharide biosynthesis in <i>Myxococcus xanthus</i>.

ABSTRACT: Bacteria synthesize chemically diverse capsular and secreted polysaccharides that function in many physiological processes and are widely used in industrial applications. In the ubiquitous Wzx/Wzy-dependent biosynthetic pathways for these polysaccharides, the polysaccharide co-polymerase (PCP) facilitates the polymerization of repeat units in the periplasm, and in Gram-negative bacteria, also polysaccharide translocation across the outer membrane. These PCPs belong to the PCP-2 family, are integral inner membrane proteins with extended periplasmic domains, and functionally depend on alternating between different oligomeric states. The oligomeric state is determined by a cognate cytoplasmic bacterial tyrosine kinase (BYK), which is either part of the PCP or a stand-alone protein. Interestin

SUBMITTER: Blocher L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12004946 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature