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  • Blackwell Science Ltd, UK  (2)
  • Blackwell Science, Ltd  (1)
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  • 1
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Chromosomal insertion and excision of a 30 kb unstable genetic element is responsible for phase variation of lipopolysaccharide and other virulence determinants in Legionella pneumophila (2001)
    Oxford, UK : Blackwell Science, Ltd
    Molecular microbiology 39 (2001), S. 0 
    Details
    ISSN: 1365-2958
    Source: Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: We recently described the phase-variable expression of a virulence-associated lipopolysaccharide (LPS) epitope in Legionella pneumophila. In this study, the molecular mechanism for phase variation was investigated. We identified a 30 kb unstable genetic element as the molecular origin for LPS phase variation. Thirty putative genes were encoded on the 30 kb sequence, organized in two putative opposite transcription units. Some of the open reading frames (ORFs) shared homologies with bacteriophage genes, suggesting that the 30 kb element was of phage origin. In the virulent wild-type strain, the 30 kb element was located on the chromosome, whereas excision from the chromosome and replication as a high-copy plasmid resulted in the mutant phenotype, which is characterized by alteration of an LPS epitope and loss of virulence. Mapping and sequencing of the insertion site in the genome revealed that the chromosomal attachment site was located in an intergenic region flanked by genes of unknown function. As phage release could not be induced by mitomycin C, it is conceivable that the 30 kb element is a non-functional phage remnant. The protein encoded by ORF T on the 30 kb plasmid could be isolated by an outer membrane preparation, indicating that the genes encoded on the 30 kb element are expressed in the mutant phenotype. Therefore, it is conceivable that the phenotypic alterations seen in the mutant depend on high-copy replication of the 30 kb element and expression of the encoded genes. Excision of the 30 kb element from the chromosome was found to occur in a RecA-independent pathway, presumably by the involvement of RecE, RecT and RusA homologues that are encoded on the 30 kb element.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2958.2001.02314.x
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    Paper (German National Licenses)
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  • 2
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    A UDP glucosyltransferase from Bacillus subtilis successively transfers up to four glucose residues to 1,2-diacylglycerol: expression of ypfP in Escherichia coli and structural analysis of its reaction products (1998)
    Oxford BSL : Blackwell Science Ltd, UK
    Molecular microbiology 29 (1998), S. 0 
    Details
    ISSN: 1365-2958
    Source: Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: We have isolated the ypfP gene (accession number P54166) from genomic DNA of Bacillus subtilis Marburg strain 60015 (Freese and Fortnagel, 1967) using PCR. After cloning and expression in E. coli, SDS–PAGE showed strong expression of a protein that had the predicted size of 43.6 kDa. Chromatographic analysis of the lipids extracted from the transformed E. coli revealed several new glycolipids. These glycolipids were isolated and their structures determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry. They were identified as 3-[O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl]-1,2-diacylglycerol, 3-[O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl]-1,2-diacylglycerol and 3-[O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl]-1,2-diacylglycerol. The enzymatic activity expected to catalyse the synthesis of these compounds was confirmed by in vitro assays with radioactive substrates. In these assays, one additional glycolipid was formed and tentatively identified as 3-[O-β-D-glucopyranosyl]-1,2-diacylglycerol, which was not detected in the lipid extract of transformed cells. Experiments with some of the above-described glycolipids as 14C-labelled sugar acceptors and unlabelled UDP-glucose as glucose donor suggest that the ypfP gene codes for a new processive UDP-glucose: 1,2-diacylglycerol-3-β-D-glucosyl transferase. This glucosyltransferase can use diacylglycerol, monoglucosyl-diacylglycerol, diglucosyldiacylglycerol or triglucosyldiacylglycerol as sugar acceptor, which, apart from the first member, are formed by repetitive addition of a glucopyranosyl residue in β (1→6) linkage to the product of the preceding reaction.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2958.1998.00930.x
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  • 3
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    A lethal role for lipid A in Salmonella infections (1998)
    Oxford BSL : Blackwell Science Ltd, UK
    Molecular microbiology 29 (1998), S. 0 
    Details
    ISSN: 1365-2958
    Source: Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Salmonella infections in naturally susceptible mice grow rapidly, with death occurring only after bacterial numbers in vivo have reached a high threshold level, commonly called the lethal load. Despite much speculation, no direct evidence has been available to substantiate a role for any candidate bacterial components in causing death. One of the most likely candidates for the lethal toxin in salmonellosis is endotoxin, specifically the lipid A domain of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) molecule. Consequently, we have constructed a Salmonella mutant with a deletion–insertion in its waaN gene, which encodes the enzyme that catalyses one of the two secondary acylation reactions that complete lipid A biosynthesis. The mutant biosynthesizes a lipid A molecule lacking a single fatty acyl chain and is consequently less able to induce cytokine and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) responses both in vivo and in vitro. The mutant bacteria appear healthy, are not sensitive to increased growth temperature and synthesize a full-length O-antigen-containing LPS molecule lacking only the expected secondary acyl chain. On intravenous inoculation into susceptible BALB/c mice, wild-type salmonellae grew at the expected rate of approximately 10-fold per day in livers and spleens and caused the death of the infected mice when lethal loads of approximately 108 were attained in these organs. Somewhat unexpectedly, waaN mutant bacteria grew at exactly the same rate as wild-type bacteria in BALB/c mice but, when counts reached 108 per organ, mice infected with mutant bacteria survived. Bacterial growth continued until unprecedentedly high counts of 109 per organ were attained, when approximately 10% of the mice died. Most of the animals carrying these high bacterial loads survived, and the bacteria were slowly cleared from the organs. These experiments provide the first direct evidence that death in a mouse typhoid infection is directly dependent on the toxicity of lipid A and suggest that this may be mediated via pro-inflammatory cytokine and/or iNOS responses.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2958.1998.00952.x
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    Paper (German National Licenses)
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