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The structure of the polysaccharide O-chain of the lipopolysaccharide isolated from the sequenced strain Chromobacterium violaceum ATCC 12472 (NCTC 9757) was investigated by chemical and NMR analyses, and concluded to be -4-α-Leg5Ac7Ala-4-β-d-ManNAlaA3OAc-3-α-d-GlcNAc-where Leg5Ac7Ala indicates 5-acetamido-7-alanylamido-3,5,7,9-tetradeoxy-d-glycero-d-galacto-non-2-ulopyranosonic acid and ManNAlaA3OAc 3-O-acetyl-2-alanylamido-2-deoxymannopyranuronic acid. The structure of the core with one repeating unit of the polysaccharide attached was also analyzed, and it was found that the O-chain polysaccharide is linked to the core via β-GlcpNAc, as opposite to α-GlcpNAc inside the O-chain., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Glycolipids (such as glycoglycerolipids, glycosphingolipids, and glycosylphosphatidylinositol) and lipoglycans (such as lipopolysaccharides (LPS), lipooligosaccharides (LOS), mycobacterial lipoarabinomannan, and mycoplasma lipoglycans) are typically found on the surface of cell membranes and play crucial roles in various cellular functions. Characterizing their structure and dynamics at the molecular level is essential to understand their biological roles, but systematic generation of glycolipid and lipoglycan structures is challenging because of great variations in lipid structures and glycan sequences (i.e., carbohydrate types and their linkages). To facilitate the generation of all-atom glycolipid/LPS/LOS structures, we have developed Glycolipid Modeler and LPS Modeler in CHARMM-GUI ( http://www.charmm-gui.org ), a web-based interface that simplifies building of complex biological simulation systems. In addition, we have incorporated these modules into Membrane Builder so that users can readily build a complex symmetric or asymmetric biological membrane system with various glycolipids and LPS/LOS. These tools are expected to be useful in innovative and novel glycolipid/LPS/LOS modeling and simulation research by easing tedious and intricate steps in modeling complex biological systems and shall provide insight into structures, dynamics, and underlying mechanisms of complex glycolipid-/LPS-/LOS-containing biological membrane systems.

Xanthomonas translucens pv. translucens (Xtt) is a Gram-negative pathogen of crops from the plant family Poaceae. The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Xtt was isolated and chemically characterized. The analyses revealed the presence of rhamnose, xylose, mannose, glucose, galacturonic acid, phosphates, 3-deoxy-D-manno-oct-2-ulopyranosonic acid (Kdo) and fatty acids (10:0, 11:0, 11:0(3-OH) i/a, 11:0(3-OH), 12:0(3-OH) i/a, 12:0(3-OH), 12:0, 13:0(3-OH) i, 13:0(3-OH) a, 13:0(3-OH), 14:0(3-OH) i/a, 14:0(3-OH) and 16:0). The rough type of LPS (lipooligosaccharides; LOS) was isolated and its composition determined utilizing mass spectrometry. The structure of core-lipid A backbone was revealed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy performed on O-deacylated LOS sample, and was shown to be: α-D-Manp-(1→3)-α-D-Manp-(1→3)-β-D-Glcp-(1→4)-α-D-Manp-(1→5)-α-Kdo-(2→6)-β-D-GlcpN-(1→6)-α-D-GlcpN. 4-α-Man and Kdo were further substituted via phosphodiester groups by two galactopyranuronic acids. Xtt LPS elicited a stress response in Nicotiana tabacum suspension cell cultures, namely a transient calcium signal and the generation of H2O2 was observed. Pharmacological studies indicated the involvement of plasma membrane calcium channels, kinases and phospholipase C as key factors in Xtt LPS induced pathogen signaling.

Lipoteichoic acid (LTA) is an important cell envelope compound of Gram-positive bacteria. LTA isolated from allergy-protective Staphylococcus sciuri W620 strain was characterized by chemical analyses as well as 1D and 2D NMR experiments. Compositional analyses indicated the presence of glycerol (Gro), phosphate-Gro, alanine-Gro, glucose (Glc) and fatty acids. The studied strain produced LTA with backbone composed of glycerol-phosphate repeating units only substituted with d-alanine (Ala) and the lipid anchor, typically for genus Staphyloccocus, possessing the structure β-d-Glcp(1→6)- β-d-Glcp(1→3)-1,2-diacyl-sn-Gro., (Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

In Yersinia pseudotuberculosis complex, the O-antigen of LPS is used for the serological characterization of strains, and 21 serotypes have been identified to date. The O-antigen biosynthesis gene cluster and corresponding O-antigen structure have been described for 18, leaving O:8, O:13 and O:14 unresolved. In this study, two O:8 isolates were examined. The O-antigen gene cluster sequence of strain 151 was near identical to serotype O:4a, though a frame-shift mutation was found in ddhD, while No. 6 was different to 151 and carried the O:1b gene cluster. Structural analysis revealed that No. 6 produced a deeply truncated LPS, suggesting a mutation within the waaF gene. Both ddhD and waaF were cloned and expressed in 151 and No. 6 strains, respectively, and it appeared that expression of ddhD gene in strain 151 restored the O-antigen on LPS, while waaF in No. 6 resulted in an LPS truncated less severely but still without the O-antigen, suggesting that other mutations occurred in this strain. Thus, both O:8 isolates were found to be spontaneous O-antigen-negative mutants derived from other validated serotypes, and we propose to remove this serotype from the O-serotyping scheme, as the O:8 serological specificity is not based on the O-antigen., (© The Author(s) 2016.)

The structures of the lipooligosaccharides fromBrucella melitensismutants affected in the WbkD and ManBcoreproteins have been fully characterized using NMR spectroscopy. The results revealed that disruption ofwbkDgives rise to a rough lipopolysaccharide (R-LPS) with a complete core structure (β-d-Glcp-(1→4)-α-Kdop-(2→4)[β-d-GlcpN-(1→6)-β-d-GlcpN-(1→4)[β-d-GlcpN-(1→6)]-β-d-GlcpN-(1→3)-α-d-Manp-(1→5)]-α-Kdop-(2→6)-β-d-GlcpN3N4P-(1→6)-α-d-GlcpN3N1P), in addition to components lacking one of the terminal β-d-GlcpN and/or the β-d-Glcpresidues (48 and 17%, respectively). These structures were identical to those of the R-LPS fromB. melitensisEP, a strain simultaneously expressing both smooth and R-LPS, also studied herein. In contrast, disruption ofmanBcoregives rise to a deep-rough pentasaccharide core (β-d-Glcp-(1→4)-α-Kdop-(2→4)-α-Kdop-(2→6)-β-d-GlcpN3N4P-(1→6)-α-d-GlcpN3N1P) as the major component (63%), as well as a minor tetrasaccharide component lacking the terminal β-d-Glcpresidue (37%). These results are in agreement with the predicted functions of the WbkD (glycosyltransferase involved in the biosynthesis of the O-antigen) and ManBcoreproteins (phosphomannomutase involved in the biosynthesis of a mannosyl precursor needed for the biosynthesis of the core and O-antigen). We also report that deletion ofB. melitensis wadCremoves the core oligosaccharide branch not linked to the O-antigen causing an increase in overall negative charge of the remaining LPS inner section. This is in agreement with the mannosyltransferase role predicted for WadC and the lack of GlcpN residues in the defective core oligosaccharide. Despite carrying the O-antigen essential inB. melitensisvirulence, the core deficiency in thewadCmutant structure resulted in a more efficient detection by innate immunity and attenuation, proving the role of the β-d-GlcpN-(1→6)-β-d-GlcpN-(1→4)[β-d-GlcpN-(1→6)]-β-d-GlcpN-(1→3)-α-d-Manp-(1→5) structure in virulence., (© 2016 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.)

The distal compartments of the udder are the first to interact with invading pathogens. The regulatory and effector functions of two major teat regions [Fürstenberg's rosette (FR); teat cistern (TC)] are largely unknown. The objective of this study was to establish an in vitro model with explants of the FR and the TC to analyse their response towards Escherichia coli LPS and Staphylococcus aureus lipoteichoic acid (LTA). Quantitative stereological analysis confirmed differences in the cellular composition of FR and TC explants. Chemokine (CXCL8, CCL5, CCL20) and TNF-α mRNA were expressed at low levels in both locations. Explant stimulation with LPS increased the mRNA abundance of all tested chemokines and TNF-α. Stimulation with LTA only induced CCL20 and CXCL8. LPS- and LTA-stimulated explant supernatants contained CXCL8 and CXCL3. Supernatants significantly attracted neutrophils in vitro. Compared with TC, the FR showed high constitutive mRNA expression of S100 proteins (A8, A9, A12). In the TC, both LPS and LTA significantly induced S100A8, whereas S100A9 and S100A12 expression was only induced by LPS. The novel model system underpins the role of the teat for recognising pathogens and shaping a pathogen- and location-specific immune response., (© The Author(s) 2014 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav.)

Enterobacterial common antigen (ECA) is a polysaccharide present in all members of Enterobacteriaceae anchored either via phosphatidylglycerol (PG) or LPS to the outer leaflet of the outer membrane (ECAPG and ECALPS, respectively). Only the latter form is ECA-immunogenic. We previously demonstrated that Yersinia enterocolitica O : 3 and its rough (O-specific polysaccharide-negative) mutants were ECA-immunogenic, suggesting that they contained ECALPS; however, it was not known which part of the LPS core region was involved in ECA binding. To address this, we used a set of three deep-rough LPS mutants for rabbit immunization. The polyvalent antisera obtained were: (i) analysed for the presence of anti-LPS and anti-ECA antibodies; (ii) treated with caprylic acid (CA) to precipitate IgM antibodies and protein aggregates; and (iii) adsorbed with live ECA-negative bacteria to obtain specific anti-ECA antisera. We demonstrated the presence of antibodies specific for both ECAPG and ECALPS in all antisera obtained. Both CA treatment and adsorption with ECA-negative bacteria efficiently removed anti-LPS antibodies, resulting in specific anti-ECA sera. The LPS of the ECALPS-positive deepest-rough mutant contained only lipid A and 3-deoxy-d-manno-oct-2-ulosonic acid (Kdo) residues of the inner core, suggesting that ECALPS was linked to the Kdo region of LPS in Y. enterocolitica O : 3., (© 2015 The Authors.)

The chemical structures of the unusual hopanoid-containing lipid A samples of the lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from three strains of Bradyrhizobium (slow-growing rhizobia) have been established. They differed considerably from other Gram-negative bacteria in regards to the backbone structure, the number of ester-linked long chain hydroxylated fatty acids, as well as the presence of a tertiary residue that consisted of at least one molecule of carboxyl-bacteriohopanediol or its 2-methyl derivative. The structural details of this type of lipid A were established using one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy, chemical composition analyses, and mass spectrometry techniques (electrospray ionization Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry and MALDI-TOF-MS). In these lipid A samples the glucosamine disaccharide characteristic for enterobacterial lipid A was replaced by a 2,3-diamino-2,3-dideoxy-d-glucopyranosyl-(GlcpN3N) disaccharide, deprived of phosphate residues, and substituted by an α-d-Manp-(1→6)-α-d-Manp disaccharide substituting C-4' of the non-reducing (distal) GlcpN3N, and one residue of galacturonic acid (d-GalpA) α-(1→1)-linked to the reducing (proximal) amino sugar residue. Amide-linked 12:0(3-OH) and 14:0(3-OH) were identified. Some hydroxy groups of these fatty acids were further esterified by long (ω-1)-hydroxylated fatty acids comprising 26-34 carbon atoms. As confirmed by mass spectrometry techniques, these long chain fatty acids could form two or three acyloxyacyl residues. The triterpenoid derivatives were identified as 34-carboxyl-bacteriohopane-32,33-diol and 34-carboxyl-2β-methyl-bacteriohopane-32,33-diol and were covalently linked to the (ω-1)-hydroxy group of very long chain fatty acid in bradyrhizobial lipid A. Bradyrhizobium japonicum possessed lipid A species with two hopanoid residues., (© 2014 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.)

Chemical analyses, mass spectrometry, and NMR spectroscopy were applied to study the structure of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) isolated from Aeromonas veronii strain Bs19, serotype O16. ESI-MS revealed that the most abundant LPS glycoforms have tetra-acylated or hexa-acylated lipid A species, consisting of a bisphosphorylated GlcN disaccharide with an AraN residue as a non-stoichiometric substituent, and a core oligosaccharide composed of Hep₅Hex₃HexN₁Kdo₁P₁. Sugar and methylation analysis together with 1D and 2D ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy were the main methods used, and revealed that the O-specific polysaccharide (OPS) of A. veronii Bs19 was built up of tetrasaccharide repeating units with the structure: →4)-α-D-Quip3NAc-(1→3)-α-L-Rhap-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-α-D-GalpNAc-(1→. This composition was confirmed by mass spectrometry. The charge-deconvoluted ESI FT-ICR MS recorded for the LPS preparations identified mass peaks of SR- and R-form LPS species, that differed by Δm = 698.27 u, a value corresponding to the calculated molecular mass of one OPS repeating unit (6dHexNAc6dHexHexHexNAc-H₂O). Moreover, unspecific fragmentation spectra confirmed the sequence of the sugar residues in the OPS and allowed to assume that the elucidated structure also represented the biological repeating unit.

Background & Aims: The intestinal microbiota is an important determinant of the mucosal response. In patients with inflammatory bowel diseases, the mucosal immune system has inappropriate interactions with the intestinal microbiota. We investigated how the composition of the intestinal microbiota affects its endotoxicity and development of colitis in mice., Methods: Germ-free C57BL/6J-Rag(1tm1Mom) (Rag1(-/-)) mice were colonized with 2 different types of complex intestinal microbiota. Colitis was induced in Rag1(-/-) mice by transfer of CD4(+)CD62L(+) T cells from C57BL/6J mice. Colonic tissues were collected and used for histologic analysis and cell isolation. Activation of lamina propria dendritic cells and T cells was analyzed by flow cytometry., Results: After transfer of CD4(+)CD62L(+) T cells, mice with intestinal Endo(lo) microbiota (a low proportion of Enterobacteriaceae, high proportion of Bacteroidetes, and low endotoxicity) maintained mucosal immune homeostasis, and mice with highly endotoxic Endo(hi) microbiota (a high proportion of Enterobacteriaceae and low proportion of Bacteroidetes) developed colitis. To determine whether the effects of Endo(hi) microbiota were related to the higher endotoxic activity of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), we compared LPS from Enterobacteriaceae with that of Bacteroidetes. Administration of Escherichia coli JM83 (wild-type LPS) to the mice exacerbated colitis, and Escherichia coli JM83 + htrBPG (mutated LPS, with lower endotoxicity, similar to that of Bacteroidetes) prevented development of colitis after transfer of the T cells to mice., Conclusions: The endotoxicity of LPS produced by the intestinal microbiota is a determinant of whether mice develop colitis after transfer of CD4(+)CD62L(+) T cells. This finding might aid the design of novel biologics or probiotics to treat inflammatory bowel disease., (Copyright © 2014 AGA Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O : 3 produces two types of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) molecules to its surface. In both types the lipid A (LA) structure is substituted by inner core (IC) octasaccharide to which either outer core (OC) hexasaccharide or homopolymeric O-polysaccharide (OPS) is linked. In addition, enterobacterial common antigen (ECA) can be covalently linked to LPS, however, via an unknown linkage. To elucidate the relationship between ECA and LPS in Y. enterocolitica O : 3 and the effect of temperature on their expression, LPS was isolated from bacteria grown at 22 °C and 37 °C by consequent hot phenol/water and phenol-chloroform-light petroleum extractions to obtain LPS preparations free of ECA linked to glycerophospholipid. In immunoblotting, monoclonal antibodies TomA6 and 898, specific for OPS and ECA, respectively, reacted both with ladder-like bands and with a slower-migrating smear suggesting that the ECA and OPS epitopes coexist on the same molecules. These results were supported by immunoblotting with a monovalent Y. enterocolitica O : 3 ECA-specific rabbit antiserum. Also, two or three 898-positive (and monovalent-positive) TomA6-negative bands migrated at the level of the LA-IC band in LPS samples from certain OC mutants, most likely representing LA-IC molecules carrying 1-3 ECA repeat units but no OPS. These bands were also present in Y. enterocolitica O : 9 OC mutants; however, coexistence of ECA and OPS in the same molecules could not be detected. Finally, the LA-IC-ECA bands were missing from LPS of bacteria grown at 37 °C and also the general reduction in wild-type bacteria of ECA-specific monovalent-reactive material at 37 °C suggested that temperature regulates the expression of ECA. Indeed, RNA-sequencing analysis showed significant downregulation of the ECA biosynthetic gene cluster at 37 °C.

Tannerella forsythia is a Gram-negative anaerobic organism that inhabits subgingival plaque biofilms and is covered with a so far unique surface layer composed of two glycoproteins. It belongs to the so-called "red complex" of bacteria comprising species that are associated with periodontal disease. While the surface layer glycoprotein glycan structure had been elucidated recently and found to be a virulence factor, no structural data on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of this organism were available. In this study, the T. forsythia LPS structure was partially elucidated by a combined mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) approach and initial experiments to characterize its immunostimulatory potential were performed. The T. forsythia LPS is a complex, rough-type LPS with a core region composed of one 3-deoxy-d-manno-oct-2-ulosonic acid (Kdo) residue, three mannose residues, and two glucosamine residues. MS analyses of O-deacylated LPS proved that, in addition, one phosphoethanolamine residue and most likely one galactose-phosphate residue were present, however, their positions could not be identified. Stimulation of human macrophages with T. forsythia LPS resulted in the production of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha in a dose-dependent manner. The response to T. forsythia LPS was observed only upon stimulation in the presence of fetal calf serum (FCS), whereas no cytokine production was observed in the absence of FCS. This finding suggests that the presence of certain additional cofactors is crucial for the immune response induced by T. forsythia LPS.

Chemical analyses and mass spectrometry were used to study the structure of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) isolated from Aeromonas bestiarum strain K296, serotype O18. ESI-MS revealed that the most abundant A. bestiarum LPS glycoforms have a hexa-acylated or tetra-acylated lipid A with conserved architecture of the backbone, consisting of a 1,4'-bisphosphorylated β-(1→6)-linked D-GlcN disaccharide with an AraN residue as a non-stoichiometric substituent and a core oligosaccharide composed of Kdo1Hep6Hex1HexN1P1. 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy revealed that the O-specific polysaccharide (OPS) of A. bestiarum K296 consists of a branched tetrasaccharide repeating unit containing two 6-deoxy-l-talose (6dTalp), one Manp and one GalpNAc residues; thus, it is similar to that of the OPS of A. hydrophila AH-3 (serotype O34) in both the sugar composition and the glycosylation pattern. Moreover, 3-substituted 6dTalp was 2-O-acetylated and additional O-acetyl groups were identified at O-2 and O-4 (or O-3) positions of the terminal 6dTalp. Western blots with polyclonal rabbit sera showed that serotypes O18 and O34 share some epitopes in the LPS. The very weak reaction of the anti-O34 serum with the O-deacylated LPS of A. bestiarum K296 might have been due to the different O-acetylation pattern of the terminal 6dTalp. The latter suggestion was further confirmed by NMR.

Lipoteichoic acid (LTA) is an amphiphilic polycondensate located in the cell envelope of Gram-positive bacteria. In this study, LTAs were isolated from the three bovine mastitis species Streptococcus uberis 233, Streptococcus dysgalactiae 2023, and Streptococcus agalactiae 0250. Structural investigations of these LTAs were performed applying 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance experiments as well as chemical analyses and mass spectrometry. Compositional analysis revealed the presence of glycerol (Gro), Glc, alanine (Ala), and 16:0, 16:1, 18:0, 18:1. The LTAs of the three Streptococcus strains possessed the same structure, that is, a lipid anchor comprised of α-Glcp-(1→2)-α-Glcp-(1→3)-1,2-diacyl-sn-Gro and the hydrophilic backbone consisting of poly(sn-Gro-1-phosphate) randomly substituted at O-2 of Gro by d-Ala., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This mini-review gives a structural view on the lipopolysaccharides (LPSs), the endotoxin from Gram negative bacteria, paying attention on the features that are relevant for their activity as elicitors of the innate immune system of humans, animals and plants.

The O-specific polysaccharide obtained by mild-acid degradation of the lipopolysaccharide from Aeromonas veronii bv. sobria strain K49 was studied by sugar and methylation analyses along with (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy. The sequence of the sugar residues was determined using (1)H,(1)H NOESY and (1)H,(13)C HMBC experiments. The O-specific polysaccharide was found to be a high molecular mass polysaccharide composed of repeating units of the structure: →2)-β-D-Quip3NAc-(1→3)-α-L-Rhap-(1→3)-α-L-Rhap-(1→2)-α-L-Rhap-(1→3)-α-D-FucpNAc-(1→ ESI MS confirmed the pentasaccharide structure of the repeating unit, as the molecular mass peaks seen in the spectrum differed by 812.34 u, a value corresponding to the calculated molecular mass of the O-unit., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

WaaA is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of LPS, a critical component of the outer envelope of Gram-negative bacteria. Embedded in the cytoplasmic face of the inner membrane, WaaA catalyzes the transfer of 3-deoxy-d-manno-oct-2-ulosonic acid (Kdo) to the lipid A precursor of LPS. Here we present crystal structures of the free and CMP-bound forms of WaaA from Aquifex aeolicus, an ancient Gram-negative hyperthermophile. These structures reveal details of the CMP-binding site and implicate a unique sequence motif (GGS/TX(5)GXNXLE) in Kdo binding. In addition, a cluster of highly conserved amino acid residues was identified which represents the potential membrane-attachment and acceptor-substrate binding site of WaaA. A series of site-directed mutagenesis experiments revealed critical roles for glycine 30 and glutamate 31 in Kdo transfer. Our results provide the structural basis of a critical reaction in LPS biosynthesis and allowed the development of a detailed model of the catalytic mechanism of WaaA.

Wall teichoic acid (WTA) was isolated from Enterococcus faecium strain U0317 and structurally characterized using (1)H, (13)C, and (31)P NMR spectroscopy, including two-dimensional COSY, TOCSY, ROESY, HMQC, and HMBC experiments. Further compositional determination was undertaken using classical chemical methods and HF treatment followed by GLC and GLC-MS analyses. The repeating unit of WTA consisted of two residues of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galactose, glycerol (Gro), and phosphate, and has the structure shown below: [See formula in text]., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

It was established in a mouse model that the cowshed Gram-positive bacterium Lactococcus lactis G121 modulates the immune system resulting in allergy protection. However, the molecules and mechanisms involved in this process have not been elucidated yet. Lipoteichoic acids (LTAs) represent one major cell envelope component of Gram-positive bacteria that is considered a pathogen-associated molecular pattern. In the investigations presented here, the isolation as well as the structural and functional analyses of the LTA of L. lactis G121 were performed. Extraction with butan-1-ol and purification by hydrophobic interaction chromatography yielded pure LTA. Structural investigations included chemical analytical methods, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and high-resolution electrospray ionization Fourier-transformed ion cyclotron mass spectrometry. LTA comprised a heterogeneous mixture of molecules composed of a 1,3-linked poly(glycerol phosphate) backbone which was randomly substituted at C-2 by D-alanine and α-D-galactopyranose. The lipid anchor constituents were kojibiose linked to a heterogeneous diglyceride comprising in total six different fatty acid compositions. This LTA preparation possesses Toll-like receptor 2- (TLR2) and TLR4-independent cytokine-inducing activities in human mononuclear cells., (© The Author 2011. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.)

φA1122 is a T7-related bacteriophage infecting most isolates of Yersinia pestis, the etiologic agent of plague, and used by the CDC in the identification of Y. pestis. φA1122 infects Y. pestis grown both at 20 °C and at 37 °C. Wild-type Yersinia pseudotuberculosis strains are also infected but only when grown at 37 °C. Since Y. pestis expresses rough lipopolysaccharide (LPS) missing the O-polysaccharide (O-PS) and expression of Y. pseudotuberculosis O-PS is largely suppressed at temperatures above 30 °C, it has been assumed that the phage receptor is rough LPS. We present here several lines of evidence to support this. First, a rough derivative of Y. pseudotuberculosis was also φA1122 sensitive when grown at 22 °C. Second, periodate treatment of bacteria, but not proteinase K treatment, inhibited the phage binding. Third, spontaneous φA1122 receptor mutants of Y. pestis and rough Y. pseudotuberculosis could not be isolated, indicating that the receptor was essential for bacterial growth under the applied experimental conditions. Fourth, heterologous expression of the Yersinia enterocolitica O:3 LPS outer core hexasaccharide in both Y. pestis and rough Y. pseudotuberculosis effectively blocked the phage adsorption. Fifth, a gradual truncation of the core oligosaccharide into the Hep/Glc (L-glycero-D-manno-heptose/D-glucopyranose)-Kdo/Ko (3-deoxy-D-manno-oct-2-ulopyranosonic acid/D-glycero-D-talo-oct-2-ulopyranosonic acid) region in a series of LPS mutants was accompanied by a decrease in phage adsorption, and finally, a waaA mutant expressing only lipid A, i.e., also missing the Kdo/Ko region, was fully φA1122 resistant. Our data thus conclusively demonstrated that the φA1122 receptor is the Hep/Glc-Kdo/Ko region of the LPS core, a common structure in Y. pestis and Y. pseudotuberculosis., (Copyright © 2011, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.)

Mastitis represents one of the most significant health problems of dairy herds. The two major causative agents of this disease are Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Of the first, its lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is thought to play a prominent role during infection. Here, we report the O-antigen (OPS, O-specific polysaccharide) structure of the LPS from bovine mastitis isolate E. coli 1303. The structure was determined utilizing chemical analyses, mass spectrometry, and 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy methods. The O-repeating unit was characterized as -[→4)-β-D-Quip3NAc-(1→3)-α-L-Fucp2OAc-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-α-D-GalpNAc-(1→]- in which the O-acetyl substitution was non-stoichiometric. The nucleotide sequence of the O-antigen gene cluster of E. coli 1303 was also determined. This cluster, located between the gnd and galF genes, contains 13 putative open reading frames, most of which represent unknown nucleotide sequences that have not been described before. The O-antigen of E. coli 1303 was shown to substitute O-7 of the terminal LD-heptose of the K-12 core oligosaccharide. Interestingly, the non-OPS-substituted core oligosaccharide represented a truncated version of the K-12 outer core - namely terminal LD-heptose and glucose were missing; however, it possessed a third Kdo residue in the inner core. On the basis of structural and genetic data we show that the mastitis isolate E. coli 1303 represents a new serotype and possesses the K-12 core type, which is rather uncommon among human and bovine isolates.

The O-specific polysaccharide obtained by mild-acid degradation of lipopolysaccharide of Aeromonas bestiarum P1S was studied by sugar and methylation analyses along with (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy. The sequence of the sugar residues was determined using (1)H,(1)H NOESY and (1)H,(13)C HMBC experiments. The O-specific polysaccharide was found to be a high-molecular-mass polysaccharide composed of tetrasaccharide repeating units of the structure [formula in text]. Since small amounts of a terminal Quip3N residue were identified in methylation analysis, it was assumed that the elucidated structure also represented the biological repeating unit of the O-specific polysaccharide., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Yersinia enterocolitica (Ye) is a gram-negative bacterium; Ye serotype O:3 expresses lipopolysaccharide (LPS) with a hexasaccharide branch known as the outer core (OC). The OC is important for the resistance of the bacterium to cationic antimicrobial peptides and also functions as a receptor for bacteriophage phiR1-37 and enterocoliticin. The biosynthesis of the OC hexasaccharide is directed by the OC gene cluster that contains nine genes (wzx, wbcKLMNOPQ, and gne). In this study, we inactivated the six OC genes predicted to encode glycosyltransferases (GTase) one by one by nonpolar mutations to assign functions to their gene products. The mutants expressed no OC or truncated OC oligosaccharides of different lengths. The truncated OC oligosaccharides revealed that the minimum structural requirements for the interactions of OC with bacteriophage phiR1-37, enterocoliticin, and OC-specific monoclonal antibody 2B5 were different. Furthermore, using chemical and structural analyses of the mutant LPSs, we could assign specific functions to all six GTases and also revealed the exact order in which the transferases build the hexasaccharide. Comparative modeling of the catalytic sites of glucosyltransferases WbcK and WbcL followed by site-directed mutagenesis allowed us to identify Asp-182 and Glu-181, respectively, as catalytic base residues of these two GTases. In general, conclusive evidence for specific GTase functions have been rare due to difficulties in accessibility of the appropriate donors and acceptors; however, in this work we were able to utilize the structural analysis of LPS to get direct experimental evidence for five different GTase specificities.

The Pla surface protease of Yersinia pestis activates human plasminogen and is a central virulence factor in bubonic and pneumonic plague. Pla is a transmembrane beta-barrel protein and member of the omptin family of outer membrane proteases which require bound lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to be proteolytically active. Plasminogen activation and autoprocessing of Pla were dramatically higher in Y. pestis cells grown at 37 degrees C than in cells grown at 20 degrees C; the difference in enzymatic activity by far exceeded the increase in the cellular content of the Pla protein. Y. pestis modifies its LPS structure in response to growth temperature. We purified His(6)-Pla under denaturing conditions and compared various LPS types for their capacity to enhance plasmin formation by His(6)-Pla solubilized in detergent. Reactivation of His(6)-Pla was higher with Y. pestis LPSs isolated from bacteria grown at 37 degrees C than with LPSs from cells grown at 25 degrees C. Lack of O antigens and the presence of the outer core region as well as a lowered level of acylation in LPS were found to enhance the Pla-LPS interaction. Genetic substitution of arginine 138, which is part of a three-dimensional protein motif for binding to lipid A phosphates, decreased both the enzymatic activity of His(6)-Pla and the amount of Pla in Y. pestis cells, suggesting the importance of the Pla-lipid A phosphate interaction. The temperature-induced changes in LPS are known to help Y. pestis to avoid innate immune responses, and our results strongly suggest that they also potentiate Pla-mediated proteolysis.

The O-specific polysaccharide obtained by mild-acid degradation of Aeromonas bestiarum 207 lipopolysaccharide was studied by sugar and methylation analyses along with (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy. The sequence of the sugar residues was determined by ROESY and HMBC experiments. It is concluded that the O-polysaccharide is composed of branched pentasaccharide repeating units of the following structure: [structure: see the text], (Copyright2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The chemical structure of the lipid A of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Bradyrhizobium elkanii USDA 76 (a member of the group of slow-growing rhizobia) has been established. It differed considerably from lipids A of other Gram-negative bacteria, in that it completely lacks negatively charged groups (phosphate or uronic acid residues); the glucosamine (GlcpN) disaccharide backbone is replaced by one consisting of 2,3-dideoxy-2,3-diamino-D-glucopyranose (GlcpN3N) and it contains two long-chain fatty acids, which is unusual among rhizobia. The GlcpN3N disaccharide was further substituted by three D-mannopyranose (D-Manp) residues, together forming a pentasaccharide. To establish the structural details of this molecule, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, chemical composition analyses and high-resolution mass spectrometry methods (electrospray ionisation Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (ESI FT-ICR MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS)) were applied. By using 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy experiments, it was confirmed that one D-Manp was linked to C-1 of the reducing GlcpN3N and an alpha-(1-->6)-linked D-Manp disaccharide was located at C-4' of the non-reducing GlcpN3N (alpha-linkage). Fatty acid analysis identified 12:0(3-OH) and 14:0(3-OH), which were amide-linked to GlcpN3N. Other lipid A constituents were long (omega-1)-hydroxylated fatty acids with 26-33 carbon atoms, as well as their oxo forms (28:0(27-oxo) and 30:0(29-oxo)). The 28:0(27-OH) was the most abundant acyl residue. As confirmed by high-resolution mass spectrometry techniques, these long-chain fatty acids created two acyloxyacyl residues with the 3-hydroxy fatty acids. Thus, lipid A from B. elkanii comprised six acyl residues. It was also shown that one of the acyloxyacyl residues could be further acylated by 3-hydroxybutyric acid (linked to the (omega-1)-hydroxy group).

Bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) are the major component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. They have a structural role since they contribute to the cellular rigidity by increasing the strength of cell wall and mediating contacts with the external environment that can induce structural changes to allow life in different conditions. Furthermore, the low permeability of the outer membrane acts as a barrier to protect bacteria from host-derived antimicrobial compounds. They also have a very important role in the elicitation of the animal and plant host innate immunity since they are microbe-associated molecular patterns, namely, they are glycoconjugates produced only by Gram-negative bacteria and are recognized as a molecular hallmark of invading microbes. LPSs are amphiphilic macromolecules generally comprising three defined regions distinguished by their genetics, structures, and function: the lipid A, the core oligosaccharide and a polysaccharide portion, the O-chain. In some Gram-negative bacteria, LPS can terminate with the core portion to form rough-type LPS (R-LPS, LOS). In this chapter, we will describe the isolation of both kinds of LPSs and their full chemical analysis, pivotal operations in the complete description of the primary structure of such important glycoconjugates., (Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The outer core (OC) region of Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:3 lipopolysaccharide is a hexasaccharide essential for the integrity of the outer membrane. It is involved in resistance against cationic antimicrobial peptides and plays a role in virulence during early phases of infection. We show here that the proximal residue of the OC hexasaccharide is a rarely encountered 4-keto-hexosamine, 2-acetamido-2,6-dideoxy-D-xylo-hex-4-ulopyranose (Sugp) and that WbcP is a UDP-GlcNAc-4,6-dehydratase enzyme responsible for the biosynthesis of the nucleotide-activated form of this rare sugar converting UDP-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranose (UDP-D-GlcpNAc) to UDP-2-acetamido-2,6-dideoxy-D-xylo-hex-4-ulopyranose (UDP- Sugp). In an aqueous environment, the 4-keto group of this sugar was present in the 4-dihydroxy form, due to hydration. Furthermore, evidence is provided that the axial 4-hydroxy group of this dihydroxy function was crucial for the biological role of the OC, that is, in the bacteriophage and enterocoliticin receptor structure and in the epitope of a monoclonal antibody.

Ralstonia solanacearum is one of the most devastating phytopathogenic bacteria, in particular its race 3. This microorganism is the causal agent of destructive diseases of different crops including tomato and potato. An important aspect of the interaction between this pathogen, and the host and non-host plants was its biochemical and molecular basis. Thus, the lipopolysaccharides (LPS) were extracted from the R. solanacearum cell wall, purified, and the O-specific polysaccharide (OPS) was isolated and chemically characterized by compositional analyses and NMR spectroscopy. The OPS was constituted of two linear polymers of an approximate ratio of 3 : 1, both of which were built up from three rhamnose and one N-acetylglucosamine residues and differed only in the substitution of one rhamnose residue. The LPS inhibited the hypersensitivity reaction (HR) in non-host tobacco plants and induced localized resistance in host potato plants, both of which were pre-treated with the LPS before being inoculated with the pathogen. A cDNA-AFLP approach was used to study transcriptome variation during the resistant and susceptible interactions. This revealed the presence of metabolites specifically expressed in the S. commersonii-resistant genotypes, which could be involved in the plant-pathogen incompatible reaction. Furthermore, a specific EST collection of the Ralstonia-potato interaction has been built up.

Chemical analyses, NMR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry were used to elucidate the structure of the rough lipopolysaccharide (LPS) isolated from Acinetobacter lwoffii F78. As a prominent feature, the core region of this LPS contained the disaccharide alpha-Kdo-(2-->8)-alpha-Kdo (Kdo=3-deoxy-d-D-manno-oct-2-ulopyranosonic acid), which so far has been identified only in chlamydial LPS. In serological investigations, the anti-chlamydial LPS monoclonal antibody S25-2, which is specific for the epitope alpha-Kdo-(2-->8)-alpha-Kdo, reacted with A. lwoffii F78 LPS. Thus, an LPS was identified outside Chlamydiaceae that contains a Chlamydia-specific LPS epitope in its core region.

To the major virulence factors of Gram-negative bacteria belong the lipopolysaccharides (endotoxins), which are very well characterized for their immunological, pharmacological and pathophysiological effects displayed in eucaryotic cells and organisms. In general, these amphiphilic lipopolysaccharides comprise three regions, which can be differentiated by their structures, function, genetics and biosynthesis: lipid A, the core region and a polysaccharide portion, which may be the O-specific polysaccharide, Enterobacterial Common Antigen (ECA) or a capsular polysaccharide. In the past, much emphasis has been laid on the elucidation of the structure-function relation. The lipid A was proven to represent the toxic principle of endotoxic active lipopolysaccharides, however, its toxicity depends not only on its structure but also on that of the core region, which is covalently linked to lipid A. Thus, and since the core region possesses immunogenic properties, complete structural analyses of lipopolysaccharides core regions and of structure-function relation are highly important for a better understanding of lipopolysaccharides action. To date, quite a number of core structures from lipopolysaccharides of various Gram-negative bacteria have been published and summarized in several overviews. This short review adds to this knowledge those structures of enterobacterial lipopolysaccharides that were published between January 2002 and October 2006.

Colanic acid (CA) or M-antigen is an exopolysaccharide produced by many enterobacteria, including the majority of Escherichia coli strains. Unlike other capsular polysaccharides, which have a close association with the bacterial surface, CA forms a loosely associated saccharide mesh that coats the bacteria, often within biofilms. Herein we show that a highly mucoid strain of E. coli K-12 ligates CA repeats to a significant proportion of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) core acceptor molecules, forming the novel LPS glycoform we call MLPS.MLPS biosynthesis is dependent upon (i) CA induction, (ii) LPS core biosynthesis, and (iii) the O-antigen ligase WaaL. Compositional analysis, mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of a purified MLPS sample confirmed the presence of a CA repeat unit identical in carbohydrate sequence, but differing at multiple positions in anomeric configuration and linkage, from published structures of extracellular CA. The attachment point was identified as O-7 of the L-glycero-D-manno-heptose of the outer LPS core, the same position used for O-antigen ligation. When O-antigen biosynthesis was restored in the K-12 background and grown under conditions meeting the above specifications, only MLPS was observed, suggesting E. coli can reversibly change its proximal covalently linked cell surface polysaccharide coat from O-antigen to CA in response to certain environmental stimuli. The identification of MLPS has implications for potential underlying mechanisms coordinating the synthesis of various surface polysaccharides.

The rough-type lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of the phytopathogenic bacterium Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris B 100 was isolated utilizing the hot phenol-water method and successively de-acylated by treatment with hydrazine and hot potassium hydroxide. Four compounds were separated by preparative high-performance anion-exchange chromatography and studied by sugar analysis and by 1D and 2D homonuclear and heteronuclear (1)H-, (13)C- and (31)P-NMR spectroscopy as well as ESI FT-MS. The two main products were a heptasaccharide and a pentasaccharide of the structures alpha-D-Manp-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Man p-(1-->4)-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->4)-alpha-D-Manp-3P -(1-->5)-alpha-Kdo-(2-->6)-beta-D-GlcpN-4P-(1-->6)-alpha-D-Glc pN-1P (1) and beta-D-Glcp-(1-->4)-alpha-D-Man p-3P-(1-->5)-alpha-Kdo-(2-->6)-beta-D-GlcpN-4 P-(1-->6)-alpha-D-GlcpN-1P (2), respectively. The products in smaller amounts were a heptasaccharide and pentasaccharide possessing the above structures plus a phosphate group at C-4 of the Kdo residue (compounds 3 and 4). Both, heptasaccharide 1 and pentasaccharide 2 were able to induce an oxidative burst in cell cultures of the non-host plant tobacco.

A teichoic acid (TA)-like polysaccharide in Enterococcus faecalis has previously been shown to induce opsonic antibodies that protect against bacteremia after active and passive immunization. Here we present new data providing a corrected structure of the antigen and the epitope against which the opsonic antibodies are directed. Capsular polysaccharide isolated from E. faecalis strain 12030 by enzymatic digestion of peptidoglycan and chromatography (enzyme-TA) was compared with lipoteichoic acid (LTA) extracted using butanol and purified by hydrophobic-interaction chromatography (BuOH-LTA). Structural determinations were carried out by chemical analysis and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Antibody specificity was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the opsonophagocytosis assay. After alanine ester hydrolysis, there was structural identity between enzyme-TA and BuOH-LTA of the TA-parts of the two molecules. The basic enterococcal LTA structure was confirmed: 1,3-poly(glycerol phosphate) nonstoichiometrically substituted at position C-2 of the glycerol residues with d-Ala and kojibiose. We also detected a novel substituent at position C-2, [D-Ala-->6]-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->2-[D-Ala-->6]-alpha-D-Glcp-1-->). Antiserum raised against enzyme-TA bound equally well to BuOH-LTA and dealanylated BuOH-LTA as to the originally described enzyme-TA antigen. BuOH-LTA was a potent inhibitor of opsonophagocytic killing by the antiserum to enzyme-TA. Immunization with antibiotic-killed whole bacterial cells did not induce a significant proportion of antibodies directed against alanylated epitopes on the TA, and opsonic activity was inhibited completely by both alanylated and dealanylated BuOH-LTA. In summary, the E. faecalis strain 12030 enzyme-TA is structurally and immunologically identical to dealanylated LTA. Opsonic antibodies to E. faecalis 12030 are directed predominantly to nonalanylated epitopes on the LTA molecule.

The carbohydrate backbones of the core-lipid A region were characterized from the lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) of Serratia marcescens strains 111R (a rough mutant strain of serotype O29) and IFO 3735 (a smooth strain not serologically characterized but possessing the O-chain structure of serotype O19). The LPSs were degraded either by mild hydrazinolysis (de-O-acylation) and hot 4 M KOH (de-N-acylation), or by hydrolysis in 2 % aqueous acetic acid, or by deamination. Oligosaccharide phosphates were isolated by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography. Through the use of compositional analysis, electrospray ionization Fourier transform mass spectrometry, and 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy applying various one- and two-dimensional experiments, we identified the structures of the carbohydrate backbones that contained D-glycero-D-talo-oct-2-ulopyranosonic acid and 4-amino-4-deoxy-L-arabinose 1-phosphate residues. We also identified some truncated structures for both strains. All sugars were D-configured pyranoses and alpha-linked, except where stated otherwise.

Enterococcus faecalis is among the predominant causes of nosocomial infections. Surface molecules like d-alanine lipoteichoic acid (LTA) perform several functions in gram-positive bacteria, such as maintenance of cationic homeostasis and modulation of autolytic activities. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of d-alanine esters of teichoic acids on biofilm production and adhesion, autolysis, antimicrobial peptide sensitivity, and opsonic killing. A deletion mutant of the dltA gene was created in a clinical E. faecalis isolate. The absence of d-alanine in the LTA of the dltA deletion mutant was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The wild-type strain and the deletion mutant did not show any significant differences in growth curve, morphology, or autolysis. However, the mutant produced significantly less biofilm when grown in the presence of 1% glucose (51.1% compared to that of the wild type); adhesion to eukaryotic cells was diminished. The mutant absorbed 71.1% of the opsonic antibodies, while absorption with the wild type resulted in a 93.2% reduction in killing. Sensitivity to several cationic antimicrobial peptides (polymyxin B, colistin, and nisin) was considerably increased in the mutant strain, confirming similar results from other studies of gram-positive bacteria. Our data suggest that the absence of d-alanine in LTA plays a role in environmental interactions, probably by modulating the net negative charge of the bacterial cell surface, and therefore it may be involved in the pathogenesis of this organism.

Three different oligosaccharide structures from the lipooligosaccharide fraction of Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain A1 were determined by means of chemical and spectrometrical methods. The peculiar feature of this oligosaccharide family consisted of its unusual length, that was very close to the that minimal requested for the external membrane functionality as exemplified from oligosaccharide 3, where the inner core is glycosylated from only one sugar moiety onwards.

From the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) fraction of the plant-pathogenic bacterium Burkholderia caryophylli, the linkage between O-specific caryan and core region was characterised. The LPS fraction was first treated with 48% aqueous HF at 4 degrees C and successively with 1% acetic acid at 100 degrees C. A main oligosaccharide representing the carbohydrate backbone of the core region and a portion of the caryan (three unit of caryose) was isolated by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography. Compositional and methylation analyses, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry and 2D NMR spectroscopy identified the structure: [carbohydrate structure: see text]. The above residues are alpha-linked pyranose rings, if not stated otherwise. Hep is L-glycero-D-manno-heptose, Car is 4,8-cyclo-3,9-dideoxy-L-erythro-D-ido-nonose and Kdo is 3-deoxy-D-manno-oct-2-ulosonic acid. This finding indicates that QuiNAc residue is the primer monosaccharide, which connects the core oligosaccharide to caryan O-chain.

Following a report of variations in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) structure of Yersinia pestis at mammalian (37 degrees C) and flea (25 degrees C) temperatures, a number of changes to the LPS structure were observed when the bacterium was cultivated at a temperature of winter-hibernating rodents (6 degrees C). In addition to one of the known Y. pestis LPS types, LPS of a new type was isolated from Y. pestis KM218 grown at 6 degrees C. The core of the latter differs in: (i) replacement of terminal galactose with terminal d-glycero-d-manno-heptose; (ii) phosphorylation of terminal oct-2-ulosonic acid with phosphoethanolamine; (iii) a lower content of GlcNAc, and; (iv) the absence of glycine; lipid A differs in the lack of any 4-amino-4-deoxyarabinose and presumably partial (di)oxygenation of a fatty acid(s). The data obtained suggest that cold temperature switches on an alternative mechanism of control of the synthesis of Y. pestis LPS.

The lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of gram-negative bacteria are essential for perception of pathogens by animals and plants. To identify the LPS substructure or substructures recognized by plants, we isolated water-phase (w)LPS from different Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris mutants and analyzed their sugar content and ability to elicit an oxidative burst in tobacco cell cultures. The different wLPS species are characterized by lacking repetitive subunits of the O-antigen, the complete O-antigen, or even most of the core region. Because loss of lipid A would be lethal to bacteria, pure lipid A was obtained from X. campestris pv. campestris wild-type wLPS by chemical hydrolysis. The elicitation experiments with tobacco cell cultures revealed that LPS detection is dependent on the bioavailability of the amphiphilic wLPS, which can form micelles in an aqueous environment. By adding deoxycholate to prevent micelle formation, all of the tested wLPS species showed elicitation capability, whereas the lipid A alone was not able to trigger an oxidative burst or calcium transients in tobacco cell cultures. These results suggest that the LPS substructure recognized by tobacco cells is localized in the inner core region of the LPS, consisting of glucose, galacturonic acid, and 3-deoxy-d-manno-oct-2-ulosonic acids. Although lipid A alone seems to be insufficient to induce an oxidative burst in tobacco cell cultures, it cannot be ruled out that lipid A or the glucosamine backbone may be important in combination with the inner core structures.

Yersinia pestis spread throughout the Americas in the early 20th century, and it occurs predominantly as a single clone within this part of the world. However, within Eurasia and parts of Africa there is significant diversity among Y. pestis strains, which can be classified into different biovars (bv.) and/or subspecies (ssp.), with bv. orientalis/ssp. pestis most closely related to the American clone. To determine one aspect of the relatedness of these different Y. pestis isolates, the structure of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of four wild-type and one LPS-mutant Eurasian/African strains of Y. pestis was determined, evaluating effects of growth at mammalian (37 degrees C) or flea (25 degrees C) temperatures on the structure and composition of the core oligosaccharide and lipid A. In the wild-type clones of ssp. pestis, a single major core glycoform was synthesized at 37 degrees C whereas multiple core oligosaccharide glycoforms were produced at 25 degrees C. Structural differences occurred primarily in the terminal monosaccharides. Only tetraacyl lipid A was made at 37 degrees C, whereas at 25 degrees C additional pentaacyl and hexaacyl lipid A structures were produced. 4-Amino-4-deoxyarabinose levels in lipid A increased with lower growth temperatures or when bacteria were cultured in the presence of polymyxin B. In Y. pestis ssp. caucasica, the LPS core lacked D-glycero-D-manno-heptose and the content of 4-amino-4-deoxyarabinose showed no dependence on growth temperature, whereas the degree of acylation of the lipid A and the structure of the oligosaccharide core were temperature dependent. A spontaneous deep-rough LPS mutant strain possessed only a disaccharide core and a slightly variant lipid A. The diversity and differences in the structure of the Y. pestis LPS suggest important contributions of these variations to the pathogenesis of this organism, potentially related to innate and acquired immune recognition of Y. pestis and epidemiologic means to detect, classify, control and respond to Y. pestis infections.

The gene cluster (waa) involved in Serratia marcescens N28b core lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis was identified, cloned, and sequenced. Complementation analysis of known waa mutants from Escherichia coli K-12, Salmonella enterica, and Klebsiella pneumoniae led to the identification of five genes coding for products involved in the biosynthesis of a shared inner core structure: [L,D-HeppIIIalpha(1-->7)-L,D-HeppIIalpha(1-->3)-L,D-HeppIalpha(1-->5)-KdopI(4<--2)alphaKdopII] (L,D-Hepp, L-glycero-D-manno-heptopyranose; Kdo, 3-deoxy-D-manno-oct-2-ulosonic acid). Complementation and/or chemical analysis of several nonpolar mutants within the S. marcescens waa gene cluster suggested that in addition, three waa genes were shared by S. marcescens and K. pneumoniae, indicating that the core region of the LPS of S. marcescens and K. pneumoniae possesses additional common features. Chemical and structural analysis of the major oligosaccharide from the core region of LPS of an O-antigen-deficient mutant of S. marcescens N28b as well as complementation analysis led to the following proposed structure: beta-Glc-(1-->6)-alpha-Glc-(1-->4))-alpha-D-GlcN-(1-->4)-alpha-D-GalA-[(2<--1)-alpha-D,D-Hep-(2<--1)-alpha-Hep]-(1-->3)-alpha-L,D-Hep[(7<--1)-alpha-L,D-Hep]-(1-->3)-alpha-L,D-Hep-[(4<--1)-beta-D-Glc]-(1-->5)-Kdo. The D configuration of the beta-Glc, alpha-GclN, and alpha-GalA residues was deduced from genetic data and thus is tentative. Furthermore, other oligosaccharides were identified by ion cyclotron resonance-Fourier-transformed electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, which presumably contained in addition one residue of D-glycero-D-talo-oct-2-ulosonic acid (Ko) or of a hexuronic acid. Several ions were identified that differed from others by a mass of +80 Da, suggesting a nonstoichiometric substitution by a monophosphate residue. However, none of these molecular species could be isolated in substantial amounts and structurally analyzed. On the basis of the structure shown above and the analysis of nonpolar mutants, functions are suggested for the genes involved in core biosynthesis.

Extraction of dry bacteria of Acinetobacter baumannii strain 24 by phenol-water yielded a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) that was studied by serological methods and fatty acid analysis. After immunisation of BALB/c mice with this strain, monoclonal antibody S48-3-13 (IgG(3) isotype) was obtained, which reacted with the LPS in western blot and characterized it as S-form LPS. Degradation of the LPS in aqueous 1% acetic acid followed by GPC gave the O-antigenic polysaccharide, whose structure was determined by compositional analyses and NMR spectroscopy of the polysaccharide and O-deacylated polysaccharide as [carbohydrate structure: see text] where QuiN4N is 2,4-diamino-2,4,6-trideoxyglucose and GalNAcA 2-acetamido-2-deoxygalacturonic acid. The amino group at C-4 of the QuipN4N residues is acetylated in about 2/3 of LPS molecules and (S)-3-hydroxybutyrylated in the rest.

Lipid A is the hydrophobic anchor of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. Lipid A of all Rhizobiaceae is acylated with a long fatty acid chain, 27-hydroxyoctacosanoic acid. Biosynthesis of this long acyl substitution requires a special acyl carrier protein, AcpXL, which serves as a donor of C28 (omega-1)-hydroxylated fatty acid for acylation of rhizobial lipid A (Brozek, K.A., Carlson, R.W., and Raetz, C. R. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 32126-32136). To determine the biological function of the C28 acylation of lipid A, we constructed an acpXL mutant of Sinorhizobium meliloti strain 1021. Gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis of the fatty acid composition showed that the acpXL mutation indeed blocked C28 acylation of lipid A. SDS-PAGE analysis of acpXL mutant LPS revealed only a fast migrating band, rough LPS, whereas the parental strain 1021 manifested both rough and smooth LPS. Regardless of this, the LPS of parental and mutant strains had a similar sugar composition and exposed the same antigenic epitopes, implying that different electrophoretic profiles might account for different aggregation properties of LPS molecules with and without a long acyl chain. The acpXL mutant of strain 1021 displayed sensitivity to deoxycholate, delayed nodulation of Medicago sativa, and a reduced competitive ability. However, nodules elicited by this mutant on roots of M. sativa and Medicago truncatula had a normal morphology and fixed nitrogen. Thus, the C28 fatty acid moiety of lipid A is not crucial, but it is beneficial for establishing an effective symbiosis with host plants. acpXL lies upstream from a cluster of five genes, including msbB (lpxXL), which might be also involved in biosynthesis and transfer of the C28 fatty acid to the lipid A precursor.

We have studied the folding pathway of a beta-barrel membrane protein using outer membrane protein A (OmpA) of Escherichia coli as an example. The deletion of the gene of periplasmic Skp impairs the assembly of outer membrane proteins of bacteria. We investigated how Skp facilitates the insertion and folding of completely unfolded OmpA into phospholipid membranes and which are the biochemical and biophysical requirements of a possible Skp-assisted folding pathway. In refolding experiments, Skp alone was not sufficient to facilitate membrane insertion and folding of OmpA. In addition, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was required. OmpA remained unfolded when bound to Skp and LPS in solution. From this complex, OmpA folded spontaneously into lipid bilayers as determined by electrophoretic mobility measurements, fluorescence spectroscopy, and circular dichroism spectroscopy. The folding of OmpA into lipid bilayers was inhibited when one of the periplasmic components, either Skp or LPS, was absent. Membrane insertion and folding of OmpA was most efficient at specific molar ratios of OmpA, Skp, and LPS. Unfolded OmpA in complex with Skp and LPS folded faster into phospholipid bilayers than urea-unfolded OmpA. Together, these results describe a first assisted folding pathway of an integral membrane protein on the example of OmpA.

The waa gene cluster is responsible for the biosynthesis of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) core region in Escherichia coli and Salmonella: Homologs of the waaZ gene product are encoded by the waa gene clusters of Salmonella enterica and E. coli strains with the K-12 and R2 core types. Overexpression of WaaZ in E. coli and S. enterica led to a modified LPS structure showing core truncations and (where relevant) to a reduction in the amount of O-polysaccharide side chains. Mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy were used to determine the predominant LPS structures in an E. coli isolate with an R1 core (waaZ is lacking from the type R1 waa gene cluster) with a copy of the waaZ gene added on a plasmid. Novel truncated LPS structures, lacking up to 3 hexoses from the outer core, resulted from WaaZ overexpression. The truncated molecules also contained a KdoIII residue not normally found in the R1 core.

The rough-type lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of the plague pathogen, Yersinia pestis, was studied after mild-acid and strong-alkaline degradations by chemical analyses, NMR spectroscopy and electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry, and the following structure of the core region was determined:where L-alpha-D-Hep stands for L-glycero-alpha-D-manno-heptose, Sug1 for either 3-deoxy-alpha-D-manno-oct-2-ulosonic acid (alpha-Kdo) or D-glycero-alpha-D-talo-oct-2-ulosonic acid (alpha-Ko), and Sug2 for either beta-D-galactose or D-glycero-alpha-D-manno-heptose. A minority of the LPS molecules lacks GlcNAc.