Identification of the Functional Roles of Six Key Proteins in the Biosynthesis of Enterobacteriaceae Colanic Acid.

ABSTRACT: When subjected to harsh conditions such as low pH, pathogenic Escherichia coli can secrete colanic acid to establish a protective barrier between the organism and the acidic environment. The colanic acid consists of a six-sugar repeating unit polymer comprised of glucose, fucose, galactose, and glucuronic acid. The region of the E. coli genome that encodes colanic acid biosynthesis has been reported, and the first enzyme in the biosynthesis pathway has been biochemically characterized. However, the specific roles of the remaining genes required for colanic acid biosynthesis have not been identified. Here we report the in vitro reconstitution of the next six steps in the assembly of the colanic acid repeating unit. To do this, we have cloned and overexpressed each gene within the colanic ac

SUBMITTER: Scott PM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6445743 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature