biostudies-literatureUnknown17(1)Schwabe JThe Max Planck SocietyExported polysaccharides play crucial functions in bacteria. Polysaccharide biosynthesis in the ubiquitous Wzx/Wzy- and ABC-transporter-dependent pathways starts with the transfer of a sugar-1-phosphate from a nucleotide-sugar donor to undecaprenyl phosphate, a reaction catalyzed by a phosphoglycosyl transferase (PGT). Both reaction substrates are limited and shared among multiple glycoconjugate pathways, raising the question of how bacteria regulate these pathways. In <i>Myxococcus xanthu</i>s, EpsZ, which belongs to the family of large monotopic PGTs (monoPGTs), starts the Wzx/Wzy-dependent exopolysaccharide (EPS) biosynthesis. The Dif chemosensory system regulates EPS biosynthesis by an unknown mechanism via the phosphorylated single-domain response regulator EpsW (EpsW~P). Here, we shomBioe0298625https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12802240biostudies-literatureA single-domain response regulator activates exopolysaccharide biosynthesis by interaction with the initiating phosphoglycosyl transferase.PMC12802240Rupp OSogaard-Andersen LGoesmann ABlumenkamp PGlatter TValvano MAMonjaras-Feria JSchwabe JfalseA single-domain response regulator activates exopolysaccharide biosynthesis by interaction with the initiating phosphoglycosyl transferase.Exported polysaccharides play crucial functions in bacteria. Polysaccharide biosynthesis in the ubiquitous Wzx/Wzy- and ABC-transporter-dependent pathways starts with the transfer of a sugar-1-phosphate from a nucleotide-sugar donor to undecaprenyl phosphate, a reaction catalyzed by a phosphoglycosyl transferase (PGT). Both reaction substrates are limited and shared among multiple glycoconjugate pathways, raising the question of how bacteria regulate these pathways. In <i>Myxococcus xanthu</i>s, EpsZ, which belongs to the family of large monotopic PGTs (monoPGTs), starts the Wzx/Wzy-dependent exopolysaccharide (EPS) biosynthesis. The Dif chemosensory system regulates EPS biosynthesis by an unknown mechanism via the phosphorylated single-domain response regulator EpsW (EpsW~P). Here, we sho2026-01-01T00:00:00Z2026 Jan2026-06-10T05:04:20.189Z2026-06-10T03:07:12.048ZS-EPMC128022404131321010.1128/mbio.02986-25