Identification and Characterization of Two Klebsiella pneumoniae lpxL Lipid A Late Acyltransferases and Their Role in Virulence.

ABSTRACT: Klebsiella pneumoniae causes a wide range of infections, from urinary tract infections to pneumonia. The lipopolysaccharide is a virulence factor of this pathogen, although there are gaps in our understanding of its biosynthesis. Here we report on the characterization of K. pneumoniaelpxL, which encodes one of the enzymes responsible for the late secondary acylation of immature lipid A molecules. Analysis of the available K. pneumoniae genomes revealed that this pathogen's genome encodes two orthologues of Escherichia coli LpxL. Using genetic methods and mass spectrometry, we demonstrate that LpxL1 catalyzes the addition of laureate and LpxL2 catalyzes the addition of myristate. Both enzymes acylated E. coli lipid A, whereas only LpxL2 mediated

SUBMITTER: Mills G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5563558 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature