The rfaS gene, which is involved in production of a rough form of lipopolysaccharide core in Escherichia coli K-12, is not present in the rfa cluster of Salmonella typhimurium LT2.

Partial sequencing of the rfa cluster of Salmonella typhimurium LT2 indicated a region of 336 bp between rfaP and rfaB in the site occupied by the rfaS gene in Escherichia coli K-12. This region does not contain a functional rfaS gene, although DNA analysis suggests that the region may have contained an ancestral gene. This conclusion that S. typhimurium LT2 lacks rfaS is supported by its lipopolysaccharide (LPS) gel phenotype, since LT2 does not make the lipooligosaccharide band characteristic of LPS from smooth strains of E. coli K-12.     

Molecular cloning of genes involved with expression of A-band lipopolysaccharide, an antigenically conserved form, in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Most strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa can express two chemically and immunologically distinct types of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an antigenically conserved form called A band and the serotype-specific form called B band. To study the molecular controls regulating expression of the A-band LPS antigen, we have cloned the genes involved with A-band LPS expression. Strain AK1401, a phage-resistant mutant of PAO1 which was shown previously to produce only A-band LPS and not the O-antigen-containing B-band LPS, was mutagenized by using ethyl methanesulfonate to generate an A-band-deficient mutant called rd7513. A cosmid clone bank of P. aeruginosa PAO1 whole genomic DNA was constructed in Escherichia coli. The gene bank was mobilized en masse into strain rd7513, and detection of complementation of synthesis of A band was done by screening transconjugants in a colony immunoblot assay with the A-band-specific monoclonal antibody N1F10. One recombinant cosmid, pFV3, complemented synthesis of A-band polysaccharide in rd7513. Silver-stained polyacrylamide gel and Western immunoblot analyses of LPS extracted from the transconjugant rd7513(pFV3) showed that the A band produced had a higher molecular weight than the A band of AK1401. Analysis of the plasmid pFV3 showed that it contained a chromosomal insert of 27 kb. Two subclones of pFV3, namely, pFV35 and pFV36, containing chromosomal inserts of 5.3 and 4.2 kb, respectively, also complemented A-band expression in rd7513. The LPS banding profile of rd7513(pFV35) was similar to that of AK1401, while the LPS profile of rd7513(pFV36) more closely resembled that of rd7513(pFV3). pFV3 complemented A-band expression in five of the six P. aeruginosa O serotypes which lack A band as well as in rough strain AK44 but failed to complement A-band expression in core mutants AK1012 and AK1282, suggesting that pFV3 contains genes for A-band expression and that synthesis of a complete core region in isogenic mutant strains is required for A-band synthesis.     

Lipopolysaccharide-Defective Mutants of the Wilt Pathogen Pseudomonas solanacearum

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-defective mutants of Pseudomonas solanacearum were used to test the hypothesis that differences in LPS structure are associated with the ability or inability of different strains to induce a hypersensitive response (HR) in tobacco. To obtain these mutants, LPS-specific bacteriophage of P. solanacearum were isolated and used to select phage-resistant mutants of the virulent, non-HR-inducing strain K60. The LPS of 24 of these mutants was purified and compared with that of K60 and its HR-inducing variant, B1. Upon sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, LPS from K60 and other smooth strains separated into many evenly spaced bands that migrated slowly, whereas LPS from B1 and most phage-resistant strains separated into one to three bands that migrated rapidly. Carbohydrate analysis showed that the LPS of the phage-resistant strains lacked O-antigen sugars (rhamnose, xylose, and N-acetylglucosamine) and could be grouped into (i) those that had all core sugars (rhamnose, glucose, heptose, and 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonate), (ii) those that had no core rhamnose, and (iii) those that lacked all core sugars except for 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonate. The LPS composition of 10 of the rough, phage-resistant mutants was similar to that of the HR-inducing strain, B1, yet none of them induced the HR. Only 2 of 13 mutant strains tested caused wilting of tobacco, and these had rough LPS but produced large amounts of extracellular polysaccharide, unlike most LPS-defective mutants. The evidence did not support the hypothesis that the initial interaction between rough LPS and tobacco cell walls is the determining factor in HR initiation.     

Construction of mutants of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans defective in serotype b-specific polysaccharide antigen by insertion of transposon Tn916.

Mutants of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans strain Y4 defective in the capsular-like serotype b-specific polysaccharide antigen (SPA) were constructed by inserting the transposon Tn916. Southern blot analysis suggested that the transposon was inserted into a variety of different sites on the chromosome. Whole cells from two mutants (strains ST1 and ST2) lacked reactivity with a monoclonal antibody to SPA of A. actinomycetemcomitans Y4 (mAb S5) in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, but those from another nine mutants (e.g. strains ST3 and ST5) reacted very weakly with mAb S5. Immunodiffusion tests showed that mAb S5 or rabbit antiserum against whole cells of strain Y4 produced a fused precipitin band with purified SPA and autoclaved extract from strain Y4, but no precipitin band with autoclaved extracts from these four mutants. The hydrolysate of autoclaved extract from strain Y4 contained equal amounts of rhamnose and fucose, component sugars of SPA. The hydrolysates of autoclaved extracts from strains ST1 and ST2 contained a trace amount of rhamnose, but not fucose. Those of autoclaved extracts from strains ST3 and ST5 contained a trace amount of fucose, but not rhamnose. All of these SPA-defective mutants reacted with a mAb to lipopolysaccharide of strain Y4. The cell hydrophobicity of SPA-defective mutants was higher than that of the parent strain. These mutant clones will be useful for analysing the gene complex responsible for the synthesis of SPA of A. actinomycetemcomitans and the regulation of expression of the polysaccharide.     

Role of Escherichia coli K-12 rfa genes and the rfp gene of Shigella dysenteriae 1 in generation of lipopolysaccharide core heterogeneity and attachment of O antigen.

The rfp gene of Shigella dysenteriae 1 and the rfa genes of Escherichia coli K-12 and Salmonella typhimurium LT2 have been studied to determine their relationship to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) core heterogeneity and their role in the attachment of O antigen to LPS. It has been inferred from the nucleotide sequence that the rfp gene encodes a protein of 41,864 Da which has a structure similar to that of RfaG protein. Expression of this gene in E. coli K-12 results in the loss of one of the three bands seen in gel analysis of the LPS and in the appearance of a new, more slowly migrating band. This is consistent with the hypothesis that Rfp is a sugar transferase which modifies a subset of core molecules so that they become substrates for attachment of S. dysenteriae O antigen. A shift in gel migration of the bands carrying S. dysenteriae O antigen and disappearance of the Rfp-modified band in strains producing O antigen suggest that the core may be trimmed or modified further before attachment of O antigen. Mutation of rfaL results in a loss of the rough LPS band which appears to be modified by Rfp and prevents the appearance of the Rfp-modified band. Thus, RfaL protein is involved in core modification and is more than just a component of the O-antigen ligase. The products of rfaK and rfaQ also appear to be involved in modification of the core prior to attachment of O antigen, and the sites of rfaK modification are different in E. coli K-12 and S. typhimurium. In contrast, mutations in rfaS and rfaZ result in changes in the LPS core but do not affect the attachment of O antigen. We propose that these genes are involved in an alternative pathway for the synthesis of rough LPS species which are similar to lipooligosaccharides of other species and which are not substrates for O-antigen attachment. All of these studies indicate that the apparent heterogeneity of E. coli K-12 LPS observed on gels is not an artifact but instead a reflection of functional differences among LPS species.     

Expression of the cloned Escherichia coli O9 rfb gene in various mutant strains of Salmonella typhimurium.

To investigate the effect of chromosomal mutation on the synthesis of rfe-dependent Escherichia coli O9 lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the cloned E. coli O9 rfb gene was introduced into Salmonella typhimurium strains defective in various genes involved in the synthesis of LPS. When E. coli O9 rfb was introduced into S. typhimurium strains possessing defects in rfb or rfc, they synthesized E. coli O9 LPS on their cell surfaces. The rfe-defective mutant of S. typhimurium synthesized only very small amounts of E. coli O9 LPS after the introduction of E. coli O9 rfb. These results confirmed the widely accepted idea that the biosynthesis of E. coli O9-specific polysaccharide does not require rfc but requires rfe. By using an rfbT mutant of the E. coli O9 rfb gene, the mechanism of transfer of the synthesized E. coli O9-specific polysaccharide from antigen carrier lipid to the R-core of S. typhimurium was investigated. The rfbT mutant of the E. coli O9 rfb gene failed to direct the synthesis of E. coli O9 LPS in the rfc mutant strain of S. typhimurium, in which rfaL and rfbT functions are intact, but directed the synthesis of the precursor. Because the intact E. coli O9 rfb gene directed the synthesis of E. coli O9 LPS in the same strain, it was suggested that the rfaL product of S. typhimurium and rfbT product of E. coli O9 cooperate to synthesize E. coli O9 LPS in S. typhimurium.     

Identification of the galE gene and a galE homolog and characterization of their roles in the biosynthesis of lipopolysaccharide in a serotype O:8 strain of Yersinia enterocolitica.

A clone that complements mutations in Yersinia enterocolitica lipopolysaccharide (LPS) core biosynthesis was isolated, and the DNA sequence of the clone was determined. Three complete open reading frames and one partial open reading frame were located on the cloned DNA fragment. The first, partial, open reading frame had homology to the rfbK gene. The remaining reading frames had homology to galE, rol, and gsk. Analysis of the galE homolog indicates that although it can complement an Escherichia coli galE mutant, its primary function in Y. enterocolitica is not in the production of UDP galactose but, instead, some other nucleotide sugar required for LPS biosynthesis. This gene has been renamed lse, for LPS sugar epimerase. The rol homolog has been demonstrated to have a role in Y. enterocolitica serotype 0:8 O-polysaccharide antigen chain length determination. An additional galE homolog has been identified in Y. enterocolitica by homology to the E. coli gene. The product of this gene has UDP galactose 4-epimerase activity in both E. coli and Y. enterocolitica. This gene is linked to the other genes of the galactose utilization pathway, similar to what is seen in other members of the family Enterobacteriaceae. Although Y. enterocolitica 0:8 strains are reported to have galactose as a constituent of LPS, a strain containing a mutation in this galE gene does not exhibit any LPS defects.     

Effects of pho regulatory mutations and phoA gene amplification on alkaline phosphatase synthesis and release by lky mutants of Escherichia coli K12

lky mutants of Escherichia coli K12 spontaneously released alkaline phosphatase (APase) into the extracellular medium to give up to 300 units ml-1. APase is a phosphate repressible periplasmic enzyme encoded by the gene phoA. With a view to establishing a method of easy purification, we have analysed APase synthesis and release patterns of isogenic lky strains containing either a constitutive pho regulatory mutation, or a hybrid plasmid carrying the structural gene phoA+ and pho regulatory genes, or a transducing phi 80 phoA+ phage. In the presence of the phoS2333 mutation, F- lky strains lysogenized with phi 80 phoBin phoA+ phage and grown in high phosphate medium were able to release eight times more APase activity (2300 units ml-1) than haploid strain 2336 (phoS+ lky) grown in low phosphate medium. Neither protein synthesis, the cell export machinery nor leakage mechanisms were limiting for APase release. Sufficient APase was released into the medium to facilitate its purification.     

RpoS- and OxyR-independent induction of HPI catalase at stationary phase in Escherichia coli and identification of rpoS mutations in common laboratory strains.

A rapid spectrophotometric assay to determine the activities of HPI and HPII catalases in Escherichia coli extracts has been developed. This assay is based upon the differential heat stabilities of the two enzymes and offers significant advantages over previous methods for quantitation of their activities. Measurement of catalase activities in extracts of various mutant strains confirmed the ability of this method to accurately distinguish the two activities. Contrary to previously published results, HPI catalase activity was observed to increase at stationary phase in strains lacking the stationary-phase sigma factor sigma(s) (RpoS). This increase was independent of OxyR and also occurred in a strain lacking the HPII structural gene, katE. These results suggest a potential novel pathway for HPI induction in response to increased oxidative stress in the absence of HPII. Measurement of HPII activity in strains carrying mutations in pcm (encoding the L-isoaspartyl protein methyltransferase) and surE led to the finding that these strains also have an amber mutation in rpoS; sequencing demonstrated the presence of this mutation in several commonly used laboratory strains of E. coli, including AB1157, W1485, and JC7623.     

The chemical composition of the lipopolysaccharide from Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO and a spontaneously derived rough mutant.

The chemical composition of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of the smooth strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO 307 and a spontaneously derived rough mutant, obtained by selection for resistance to the LPS-specific phage E79, are compared. The rough LPS was shown to contain lipid A, heptose, 2-keto 3-deoxyoctonic acid, galactosamine, alanine and phosphate but lacked glucose, rhamnose and fucosamine which were important constituents, on a weight basis, of the smooth LPS. These results, and chromatographic analysis of the polysaccharide fraction indicate that the rough strain lacked side chain material and was defective in its inner core region. The chemical date obtained were consistent with a core in the PAO strain similar to that of strain NCTC 1999, enhancing the evidence for a common core polysaccharide in the LPS of P. aeruginosa strains.     

Comparative studies of lipopolysaccharide and exopolysaccharide from a virulent strain of Pseudomonas solanacearum and from three avirulent mutants.

The composition of the Pseudomonas solanacearum lipolysaccharide (LPS) was found to be similar to that described for the LPS of enterobacteria. The lipid A contained fatty acids and glucosamine in a molar ratio of 5:2. The LPS fraction contained 2-keto-3-deoxyoctulosonic acid, L-glycero-D-mannoheptose, hexoses (glucose, rhamnose, and glucosamine), and a pentose (xylose). The LPSs from the wild-type strain (GMI1000), from the spontaneous rough mutant (GMI2000), and from their respective acridine orange-resistant (Acrr) mutants (GMI1178 and GMI2179) contained the same component sugars in their polysaccharide moieties, but the relative amounts of each sugar varied greatly. Spontaneous mutation to the rough type was characterized by a decrease in the ratio of rhamnose to glucose, whereas a reverse effect was seen for the acridine orange resistance mutation from the parent strains (GMI1000 and GMI2000) to the respective mutant strains (GMI1178 and GMI2179). The exopolysaccharide (EPS) from GMI1000 was found to be composed of two fractions: a heteropolysaccharide (galactosamine, glucose, and rhamnose) excluded from Sephadex G-50 and an additional glucan with a lower molecular weight. Strains GMI1000 and GMI1178 produced comparable amounts of EPS, GMI2179 synthesized less EPS, and GMI2000 produced no detectable EPS. High-pressure liquid chromatography and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance analyses revealed some differences between these EPSs. The glucan fraction seemed to be the major component of the EPS from GMI2179, whereas GMI1000 and GMI1178 EPSs contained both fractions and appeared to differ in the structures of their heteropolysaccharide fractions. Viscosity measurements confirmed differences between whole EPSs produced by the three strains.     

Immunochemistry of the surface carbohydrate antigens of Bacteroides fragilis and definition of a common antigen

The components extracted by aqueous phenol from whole cells of Bacteroides fragilis were analysed by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting and shown to consist of a series of strain-specific, cross-reactive and common antigens. Regularly-spaced ladder patterns on silver-stained gels indicated that in most strains the LPS was present as a predominantly smooth type, but with chain lengths of varying molecular mass, ranging within each particular strain from essentially rough forms to long chain-length smooth forms. The rough form of the LPS at the gel front possessed an antigen common to most of the strains investigated. Another antigen, which migrated behind the rough LPS on SDS gels, was common to all strains of the species. The smooth LPS forms and the other high molecular mass components were strain-specific antigens. Previously published methods are not capable of producing pure LPS or capsular polysaccharide for this organism.     

Associations of Escherichia coli K-12 OmpF trimers with rough and smooth lipopolysaccharides.

The associations of both rough and smooth lipopolysaccharides (LPS) with the OmpF porin of Escherichia coli K-12 were examined in galE strains deleted for ompC. Transformation with pSS37 and growth with galactose conferred the ability to assemble a Shigella dysenteriae O antigen onto the core oligosaccharide of E. coli K-12 LPS. The association of LPS with OmpF trimers was assessed by staining, autoradiography of LPS specifically labeled with [1-14C]galactose, and Western immunoblotting with a monoclonal antibody specific for OmpF trimers. These techniques revealed that the migration distances and multiple banding patterns of OmpF porin trimers in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels were dictated by the chemotype of associated LPS. Expression of smooth LPS caused almost all of the trimeric OmpF to run in gels with a slower mobility than trimers from rough strains. The LPS associated with trimers from a smooth strain differed from the bulk-phase LPS by consisting almost exclusively of molecules with O antigen.     

Synthesis of the flavonoid-induced lipopolysaccharide of Rhizobium Sp. strain NGR234 requires rhamnosyl transferases encoded by genes rgpF and wbgA

In the presence of flavonoids, Rhizobium sp. strain NGR234 synthesizes a new lipopolysaccharide (LPS), characterized by a rhamnan O-antigen. The presence of this rhamnose-rich LPS is important for the establishment of competent symbiotic interactions between NGR234 and many species of leguminous plants. Two putative rhamnosyl transferases are encoded in a cluster of genes previously shown to be necessary for the synthesis of the rhamnose-rich LPS. These two genes, wbgA and rgpF, were mutated. The resulting mutant strains synthesized truncated rough LPS species rather than the wild-type rhamnose-rich LPS when grown with flavonoids. Based on the compositions of these purified mutant LPS species, we inferred that RgpF is responsible for adding the first one to three rhamnose residues to the flavonoid-induced LPS, whereas WbgA is necessary for the synthesis of the rest of the rhamnan O-antigen. The NGR234 homologue of lpsB, which, in other bacteria, encodes a glycosyl transferase acting early in synthesis of the core portion of LPS, was identified and also mutated. LpsB was required for all the LPS species produced by NGR234, in the presence or absence of flavonoids. Mutants (i.e., of lpsB and rgpF) that lacked any portion of the rhamnan O-antigen of the induced LPS were severely affected in their symbiotic interaction with Vigna unguiculata, whereas the NGR?wbgA mutant, although having very few rhamnose residues in its LPS, was able to elicit functional nodules.     

Antigenic, immunologic and genetic characterization of rough strains B. abortus RB51, B. melitensis B115 and B. melitensis B18

The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is considered the major virulent factor in Brucella spp. Several genes have been identified involved in the synthesis of the three LPS components: lipid A, core and O-PS. Usually, Brucella strains devoid of O-PS (rough mutants) are less virulent than the wild type and do not induce undesirable interfering antibodies. Such of them proved to be protective against brucellosis in mice. Because of these favorable features, rough strains have been considered potential brucellosis vaccines. In this study, we evaluated the antigenic, immunologic and genetic characteristics of rough strains B. abortus RB51, B. melitensis B115 and B. melitensis B18. RB51 derived from B. abortus 2308 virulent strain and B115 is a natural rough strain in which the O-PS is present in the cytoplasm. B18 is a rough rifampin-resistan mutant isolated in our laboratory. The surface antigenicity of RB51, B115 and B18 was evaluated by testing their ability to bind antibodies induced by rough or smooth Brucella strains. The antibody response induced by each strain was evaluated in rabbits. Twenty-one genes, involved in the LPS-synthesis, were sequenced and compared with the B. melitensis 16M strain. The results indicated that RB51, B115 and B18 have differences in antigenicity, immunologic and genetic properties. Particularly, in B115 a nonsense mutation was detected in wzm gene, which could explain the intracellular localization of O-PS in this strain. Complementation studies to evaluate the precise role of each mutation in affecting Brucella morphology and its virulence, could provide useful information for the assessment of new, attenuated vaccines for brucellosis.     

Cell surface characteristics of two halotolerant strains of Sinorhizobium meliloti

The halotolerant Sinorhizobium meliloti strain Rmd201 and its variant Rmd201 a were examined for their cell surface properties. The variant strain formed rough colonies and was found to be more hydrophobic. Growth of the variant strain was not affected appreciably when NaCl concentration of the medium was increased from 2 mM to 700 mM. Exopolysaccharide (EPS) and the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) content of the variant strain was found to be 7 and 14 times less, respectively, than the parent strain. However, enhanced synthesis of high molecular weight LPS bands were observed in SDS-PAGE analysis in the variant strain when the NaCl concentration was raised from 2 mM to 700 mM. Ribose and glucosamine were present in the variant LPS only. Mannose appeared as a major LPS constituent of the variant when grown in high salt containing medium. All these cell surface characteristics indicated that there were significant differences between the halotolerant strains of S. meliloti. The changes in the cell surface of the variant strain indicated the possible mutation in the gene(s) of cell surface polysaccharide biosynthesis.     

Characterization of chimeric lipopolysaccharides from Escherichia coli strain JM109 transformed with lipooligosaccharide synthesis genes (lsg) from Haemophilus influenzae

Previously, we reported the expression of chimeric lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in Escherichia coli strain JM109 (a K-12 strain) transformed with plasmids containing Haemophilus influenzae lipooligosaccharide synthesis genes (lsg) (Abu Kwaik, Y., McLaughlin, R. E., Apicella, M. A., and Spinola, S. M. (1991) Mol. Microbiol. 5, 2475-2480). In this current study, we have analyzed the O-deacylated LPS and free oligosaccharides from three transformants (designated pGEMLOS-4, pGEMLOS-5, and pGEMLOS-7) by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization, electrospray ionization, and tandem mass spectrometry techniques, along with composition and linkage analyses. These data show that the chimeric LPS consist of the complete E. coli LPS core structure glycosylated on the 7-position of the non-reducing terminal branch heptose with oligosaccharides from H. influenzae. In pGEMLOS-7, the disaccharide Gal1--> 3GlcNAc1--> is added, and in pGEMLOS-5, the structure is extended to Gal1-->4GlcNAc1-->3Gal1-->3GlcNAc1-->. PGEMLOS-5 LPS reacts positively with monoclonal antibody 3F11, an antibody that recognizes the terminal disaccharide of lacto-N-neotetraose. In pGEMLOS-4 LPS, the 3F11 epitope is apparently blocked by glycosylation on the 6-position of the terminal Gal with either Gal or GlcNAc. The biosynthesis of these chimeric LPS was found to be dependent on a functional wecA (formerly rfe) gene in E. coli. By using this carbohydrate expression system, we have been able to examine the functions of the lsg genes independent of the effects of other endogenous Haemophilus genes and expressed proteins.     

Molecular cloning and expression in Escherichia coli K-12 of the O101 rfb region from E. coli B41 (O101:K99/ F41) and the genetic relationship to other O101 rfb loci

The gene cluster (rfb region) which determines the synthesis of O101 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) O-antigen was cloned from the Escherichia coli O101:K99:F41 reference strain B41 to give plasmid pPM1301. The smallest subclones represented by pPM1305 and pPM1330 expressed O-antigen in E. coli K-12 similar to (but not identical to) B41, as judged by immunogold electron microscopy and silver staining of LPS separated by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). At least six proteins were detected by minicell analysis of proteins encoded by pPM1305, which suggests that O-antigen synthesis is genetically complex. Restriction and deletion analysis demonstrated that a minimum of 8.9 kb and a maximum of 11.8 kb are required for O101 O-antigen biosynthesis in E. coli K-12. Examination of LPS banding patterns of other O101 isolates by SDS-PAGE suggested heterogeneity of LPS structure. Southern DNA hybridization analysis using radiolabelled subclones of pPM1305 demonstrated that there was close relationship among the O101 ETEC isolates.