Dam methylation controls O-antigen chain length in Salmonella enterica serovar enteritidis by regulating the expression of Wzz protein.

ABSTRACT: We reported previously that a Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis dam mutant expressing a truncated Dam protein does not agglutinate in the presence of specific antibodies against O9 polysaccharide. Here we investigate the participation of Dam in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) synthesis in Salmonella. The LPS O-antigen profiles of a dam null mutant (SEDeltadam) and the Salmonella serovar Enteritidis parental strain were examined by using electrophoresis and silver staining. Compared to the parental strain, SEDeltadam produced LPS with shorter O-antigen polysaccharide chains. Since Wzz is responsible for the chain length distribution of the O antigen, we investigated whether Dam methylation is involved in regulating wzz expression. Densitometry analysis showed that the amount of Wzz produced

SUBMITTER: Sarnacki SH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2795312 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature