Formation of polyprenol monophosphate glucose in Shigella flexneri

An enzyme synthesizing polyprenol monophosphate glucose from UDPglucose is present in the membrane fraction from Shigella flexneri 2a; UDPgalactose can also be used as the sugar donor. GDPmannose, UDPglucuronic acid and UDP-N-acetylglucosamine were ineffective. Triton X-100 or deoxycholate were required for enzymic activity. Ficaprenol (mainly C 55 ) phosphate was the most effective lipid acceptor of glucose. The phosphate esters of other polyprenols (phytol, betulaprenol, solanesol and dolichol) were much less effective. Lipid extracts from Sh. flexneri did not stimulate the formation of lipid-linked glucose. No polyprenol phosphate phosphatase was detected in membrane preparations from 2a and Y strains of Sh. flexneri .