Genomics of glycopeptidolipid biosynthesis in Mycobacterium abscessus and M. chelonae.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The outermost layer of the bacterial surface is of crucial importance because it is in constant interaction with the host. Glycopeptidolipids (GPLs) are major surface glycolipids present on various mycobacterial species. In the fast-grower model organism Mycobacterium smegmatis, GPL biosynthesis involves approximately 30 genes all mapping to a single region of 65 kb.

Results

We have recently sequenced the complete genomes of two fast-growers causing human infections, Mycobacterium abscessus (CIP 104536T) and M. chelonae (CIP 104535T). We show here that these two species contain genes corresponding to all those of the M. smegmatis "GPL locus", with extensive conservation of the predicted protein sequences consistent with the production of GPL molecules indistinguis

SUBMITTER: Ripoll F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1885439 | biostudies-literature | 2007 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature