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.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Escherichia coli

Shigella boydii

O-Antigen

Bacterial polysaccharide structure

O-Antigen gene cluster

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)