The Mycobacterium avium complex gtfTB gene encodes a glucosyltransferase required for the biosynthesis of serovar 8-specific glycopeptidolipid.

ABSTRACT: Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) is one of the most common opportunistic pathogens widely distributed in the natural environment. The 28 serovars of MAC are defined by variable oligosaccharide portions of glycopeptidolipids (GPLs) that are abundant on the surface of the cell envelope. These GPLs are also known to contribute to the virulence of MAC. Serovar 8 is one of the dominant serovars isolated from AIDS patients, but the biosynthesis of serovar 8-specific GPL remains unknown. To clarify this, we compared gene clusters involved in the biosynthesis of several serovar-specific GPLs and identified the genomic region predicted to be responsible for GPL biosynthesis in a serovar 8 strain. Sequencing of this region revealed the presence of four open reading frames, three unnamed genes and g

SUBMITTER: Miyamoto Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2593233 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature