Structure and genetics of the O-antigen of Escherichia coli O169 related to the O-antigen of Shigella boydii type 6

The O-polysaccharide (O-antigen) of Escherichia coli O169 was studied by sugar analysis along with 1D and 2D H-1 and C-13 NMR spectroscopy. The following structure of the branched hexasaccharide repeating unit was established: [GRAPHICS] The O-polysaccharide of E. coli O169 differs from that of Shigella boydii type 6 only in the presence of a side-chain glucose residue. A comparison of the O-antigen biosynthesis gene clusters between the galF to gnd genes in the genomes of the two bacteria revealed their close relationship. The glycosyltransferase gene responsible for the formation of the beta-D-Glcp-(1 -> 6)-alpha-D-Galp linkage in the O-antigen was identified in the gene cluster

Microbial and Monosaccharide Composition of Biofilms Developing on Sandy Loams from an Aquifer Contaminated with Liquid Radioactive Waste

The development of microbial biofilms increases the survival of microorganisms in the extreme conditions of ecosystems contaminated with components of liquid radioactive waste (LRW) and may contribute to the successful bioremediation of groundwater. The purpose of this work was to compare the composition of the microorganisms and the exopolysaccharide matrix of the biofilms formed on sandy loams collected at the aquifer from a clean zone and from a zone with nitrate and radionuclide contamination. The aquifer is polluted from the nearby surface repository for liquid radioactive waste (Russia). The phylogenetic diversity of prokaryotes forming biofilms on the sandy loams’ surface was determined during 100 days using high-throughput sequencing of the V4 region of the 16S rRNA genes. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the development of microbial biofilms on the sandy loams. The ratio of proteins and carbohydrates in the biofilms changed in the course of their development, and the diversity of monosaccharides decreased, depending on the contamination of the sites from which the rocks were selected. The presence of pollution affects biofilm formation and EPS composition along with the dominant taxa of microorganisms and their activity. Biofilms establish a concentration gradient of the pollutant and allow the microorganisms involved to effectively participate in the reduction of nitrate and sulfate; they decrease the risk of nitrite accumulation during denitrification and suppress the migration of radionuclides. These biofilms can serve as an important barrier in underground water sources, preventing the spread of pollution. Pure cultures of microorganisms capable of forming a polysaccharide matrix and reducing nitrate, chromate, uranyl, and pertechnetate ions were isolated from the biofilms, which confirmed the possibility of their participation in the bioremediation of the aquifer from nonradioactive waste components and the decrease in the radionuclides’ migration

Structures and gene clusters of the closely related O-antigens of Escherichia coli O46 and O134, both containing D-glucuronoyl-D-allothreonine

The O-polysaccharides (O-antigens) were isolated by mild acid degradation of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Escherichia coli O46 and O134. The structures of their linear tetrasaccharide repeating units were established by sugar analysis along with 1D and 2D H-1 and C-13 NMR spectroscopy: [GRAPHICS] where D-aThr indicates D-allothreonine and R indicates O-acetyl substitution (similar to 70% on aThr and similar to 15% on GalNAc) in E. coli O46 whereas the O-acetylation is absent in E. coli O134. Functions of genes in the essentially identical O-antigen gene clusters of E. coli O46 and O134 were tentatively assigned by a comparison with sequences in available databases and found to be in agreement with the O-polysaccharide structures established

Structure elucidation and biosynthesis gene cluster organization of the O-antigen of Escherichia coli O170

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli are causative agents of diarrhea in humans as well as animals, and E. coli O170 belongs to this virotype. Upon mild acid degradation of the lipopolysaccharide of E. coli O170, the branched O-polysaccharide chain was partially cleaved at beta-D-glactofuranosidic linkages to give multiple products, including a linear tetrasaccharide and oligomers thereof. Studies of the acid degradation products and O-deacylated lipopolysaccharide by 1D and 2D H-1 and C-13 NMR spectroscopy enabled elucidation of the following O-polysaccharide structure: -> 4)-beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1 -> 4)-beta-D-GlcpA-(1 -> 3)-beta-D-Galf-(1 -> 3)-beta-D-GlcNAc-(1 -> [GRAPHICS] beta-D-Galf Functions of genes in the O-antigen biosynthesis gene cluster were tentatively assigned and found to be in agreement with the O-polysaccharide structure

Structure of the O-polysaccharide of Escherichia coli O132

Mild acid degradation of the lipopolysaccharide of Escherichia coli O132 released its O-polysaccharide. Analysis by 1D and 2D H-1 and C-13 NMR spectroscopy prior and subsequent to O-deacetylation, in conjunction with sugar analysis, revealed a linear pentasaccharide repeating unit of the O-polysaccharide having the following structure: -> 2)-alpha-D-Galf-(1 -> 3)-alpha-L-Rhap2Ac-(1 -> 4)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1 -> 2)-alpha-L-Rhap-(1 -> 3)-beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1 -> Putative functions of genes in the O-antigen gene cluster of E. coli O132 are consistent with the O-polysaccharide structure

Biochemical Characterization of dTDP-d-Qui4N and dTDP-d-Qui4NAc Biosynthetic Pathways in Shigella dysenteriae Type 7 and Escherichia coli O7▿ †

O-antigen variation due to the presence of different types of sugars and sugar linkages is important for the survival of bacteria threatened by host immune systems. The O antigens of Shigella dysenteriae type 7 and Escherichia coli O7 contain 4-(N-acetylglycyl)amino-4,6-dideoxy-d-glucose (d-Qui4NGlyAc) and 4-acetamido-4,6-dideoxy-d-glucose (d-Qui4NAc), respectively, which are sugars not often found in studied polysaccharides. In this study, we characterized the biosynthetic pathways for dTDP-d-Qui4N and dTDP-d-Qui4NAc (the nucleotide-activated precursors of d-Qui4NGlyAc and d-Qui4NAc in O antigens). Predicted genes involved in the synthesis of the two sugars were cloned, and the gene products were overexpressed and purified as His-tagged fusion proteins. In vitro enzymatic reactions were carried out using the purified proteins, and the reaction products were analyzed by capillary electrophoresis, electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. It is shown that in S. dysenteriae type 7 and E. coli O7, dTDP-d-Qui4N is synthesized from α-d-glucose-1-phosphate in three reaction steps catalyzed by glucose-1-phosphate thymidyltransferase (RmlA), dTDP-d-glucose 4,6-dehydratase (RmlB), and dTDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-d-glucose aminotransferase (VioA). An additional acetyltransferase (VioB) catalyzes the conversion of dTDP-d-Qui4N into dTDP-d-Qui4NAc in E. coli O7. Kinetic parameters and some other properties of VioA and VioB are described and differences between VioA proteins from S. dysenteriae type 7 (VioAD7) and E. coli O7 (VioAO7) discussed. To our knowledge, this is the first time that functions of VioA and VioB have been biochemically characterized. This study provides valuable enzyme sources for the production of dTDP-d-Qui4N and dTDP-d-Qui4NAc, which are potentially useful in the pharmaceutical industry for drug development