A gene cluster for 6-deoxy-L-talan synthesis in Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans

Yoshio Nakano, Yasuo Yoshida, Yoshihisa Yamashita, Toshihiko Koga

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The serotype c antigen of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans consists of 6-deoxy-L-talose. A gene cluster involved in the synthesis of serotype- specific polysaccharide antigen was cloned from the chromosomal DNA of A. actinomycetemcomitans NCTC 9710 (serotype c). This cluster consisted of 17 open reading frames. Escherichia coli produced the polysaccharide that reacts with the serotype c-specific antibody when transformed with a plasmid containing the cluster. Comparing the structure of the gene cluster with a similar duster from A. actinomycetemcomitans Y4 (serotype b), which produces a polysaccharide consisting of L-rhamnose and D-fucose, revealed that a 5.7 kb region containing seven genes in the cluster from strain Y4 was replaced by a 3.8 kb region containing three genes in strain NCTC 9710. The results suggest that these region, as well as dTDP-6-deoxy-L-talose-forming dTDP-4- keto-L-rhamnose reductase, is essential to the production of extracellular polysaccharide specific to serotype c.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)409-414
Number of pages6
JournalBiochimica et Biophysica Acta - Gene Structure and Expression
Volume1442
Issue number2-3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 8 1998

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Structural Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Biochemistry
  • Genetics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A gene cluster for 6-deoxy-L-talan synthesis in Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this