This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Rahn, A.
Right arrow Articles by Whitfield, C.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Rahn, A.
Right arrow Articles by Whitfield, C.

 Previous Article

Journal of Bacteriology, April 1999, p. 2307-2313, Vol. 181, No. 7
0021-9193/99/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1999, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Conserved Organization in the cps Gene Clusters for Expression of Escherichia coli Group 1 K Antigens: Relationship to the Colanic Acid Biosynthesis Locus and the cps Genes from Klebsiella pneumoniae

Andrea Rahn, Jolyne Drummelsmith, and Chris Whitfield*

Department of Microbiology, The University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1

Received 29 September 1998/Accepted 16 January 1999

Group 1 capsules of Escherichia coli are similar to the capsules produced by strains of Klebsiella spp. in terms of structure, genetics, and patterns of expression. The striking similarities between the capsules of these organisms prompted a more detailed investigation of the cps loci encoding group 1 capsule synthesis. Six strains of K. pneumoniae and 12 strains of E. coli were examined. PCR analysis showed that the clusters in these strains are conserved in their chromosomal locations. A highly conserved block of four genes, orfX-wza-wzb-wzc, was identified in all of the strains. The wza and wzc genes are required for translocation and surface assembly of E. coli K30 antigen. The conservation of these genes points to a common pathway for capsule translocation. A characteristic JUMPstart sequence was identified upstream of each cluster which may function in conjunction with RfaH to inhibit transcriptional termination at a stem-loop structure found immediately downstream of the "translocation-surface assembly" region of the cluster. Interestingly, the sequence upstream of the cps clusters in five E. coli strains and one Klebsiella strain indicated the presence of IS elements. We propose that the IS elements were responsible for the transfer of the cps locus between organisms and that they may continue to mediate recombination between strains.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Microbiology, The University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1. Phone: (519) 824-4120, ext. 3478. Fax: (519) 837-1802. E-mail: cwhitfie{at}uoguelph.ca.

Journal of Bacteriology, April 1999, p. 2307-2313, Vol. 181, No. 7
0021-9193/99/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1999, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.


This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Wu, K.-M., Li, L.-H., Yan, J.-J., Tsao, N., Liao, T.-L., Tsai, H.-C., Fung, C.-P., Chen, H.-J., Liu, Y.-M., Wang, J.-T., Fang, C.-T., Chang, S.-C., Shu, H.-Y., Liu, T.-T., Chen, Y.-T., Shiau, Y.-R., Lauderdale, T.-L., Su, I.-J., Kirby, R., Tsai, S.-F. (2009). Genome Sequencing and Comparative Analysis of Klebsiella pneumoniae NTUH-K2044, a Strain Causing Liver Abscess and Meningitis. J. Bacteriol. 191: 4492-4501 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Cuthbertson, L., Mainprize, I. L., Naismith, J. H., Whitfield, C. (2009). Pivotal Roles of the Outer Membrane Polysaccharide Export and Polysaccharide Copolymerase Protein Families in Export of Extracellular Polysaccharides in Gram-Negative Bacteria. Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev. 73: 155-177 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Pan, Y.-J., Fang, H.-C., Yang, H.-C., Lin, T.-L., Hsieh, P.-F., Tsai, F.-C., Keynan, Y., Wang, J.-T. (2008). Capsular Polysaccharide Synthesis Regions in Klebsiella pneumoniae Serotype K57 and a New Capsular Serotype. J. Clin. Microbiol. 46: 2231-2240 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Nakhamchik, A., Wilde, C., Rowe-Magnus, D. A. (2007). Identification of a Wzy Polymerase Required for Group IV Capsular Polysaccharide and Lipopolysaccharide Biosynthesis in Vibrio vulnificus. Infect. Immun. 75: 5550-5558 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Chatzidaki-Livanis, M., Jones, M. K., Wright, A. C. (2006). Genetic Variation in the Vibrio vulnificus Group 1 Capsular Polysaccharide Operon.. J. Bacteriol. 188: 1987-1998 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Struve, C., Bojer, M., Nielsen, E. M., Hansen, D. S., Krogfelt, K. A (2005). Investigation of the putative virulence gene magA in a worldwide collection of 495 Klebsiella isolates: magA is restricted to the gene cluster of Klebsiella pneumoniae capsule serotype K1. J Med Microbiol 54: 1111-1113 [Full Text]  
  • Arco, Y., Llamas, I., Martinez-Checa, F., Argandona, M., Quesada, E., Moral, A. d. (2005). epsABCJ genes are involved in the biosynthesis of the exopolysaccharide mauran produced by Halomonas maura. Microbiology 151: 2841-2851 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Reid, A. N., Whitfield, C. (2005). Functional Analysis of Conserved Gene Products Involved in Assembly of Escherichia coli Capsules and Exopolysaccharides: Evidence for Molecular Recognition between Wza and Wzc for Colanic Acid Biosynthesis. J. Bacteriol. 187: 5470-5481 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Ledeboer, N. A., Jones, B. D. (2005). Exopolysaccharide Sugars Contribute to Biofilm Formation by Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium on HEp-2 Cells and Chicken Intestinal Epithelium. J. Bacteriol. 187: 3214-3226 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Brisse, S., Issenhuth-Jeanjean, S., Grimont, P. A. D. (2004). Molecular Serotyping of Klebsiella Species Isolates by Restriction of the Amplified Capsular Antigen Gene Cluster. J. Clin. Microbiol. 42: 3388-3398 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Roggenkamp, A., Hoffmann, H., Hornef, M. W. (2004). Growth Control of Small-Colony Variants by Genetic Regulation of the Hemin Uptake System. Infect. Immun. 72: 2254-2262 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Nesper, J., Hill, C. M. D., Paiment, A., Harauz, G., Beis, K., Naismith, J. H., Whitfield, C. (2003). Translocation of Group 1 Capsular Polysaccharide in Escherichia coli Serotype K30: STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE OUTER MEMBRANE LIPOPROTEIN Wza. J. Biol. Chem. 278: 49763-49772 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Chen, C.-Y., Wu, K.-M., Chang, Y.-C., Chang, C.-H., Tsai, H.-C., Liao, T.-L., Liu, Y.-M., Chen, H.-J., Shen, A. B.-T., Li, J.-C., Su, T.-L., Shao, C.-P., Lee, C.-T., Hor, L.-I, Tsai, S.-F. (2003). Comparative Genome Analysis of Vibrio vulnificus, a Marine Pathogen. Genome Res 13: 2577-2587 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Rahn, A., Beis, K., Naismith, J. H., Whitfield, C. (2003). A Novel Outer Membrane Protein, Wzi, Is Involved in Surface Assembly of the Escherichia coli K30 Group 1 Capsule. J. Bacteriol. 185: 5882-5890 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Eckstein, T. M., Belisle, J. T., Inamine, J. M. (2003). Proposed pathway for the biosynthesis of serovar-specific glycopeptidolipids in Mycobacterium avium serovar 2. Microbiology 149: 2797-2807 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Smith, A. B., Siebeling, R. J. (2003). Identification of Genetic Loci Required for Capsular Expression in Vibrio vulnificus. Infect. Immun. 71: 1091-1097 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Lai, Y.-C., Peng, H.-L., Chang, H.-Y. (2003). RmpA2, an Activator of Capsule Biosynthesis in Klebsiella pneumoniae CG43, Regulates K2 cps Gene Expression at the Transcriptional Level. J. Bacteriol. 185: 788-800 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Broadbent, J. R., McMahon, D. J., Welker, D. L., Oberg, C. J., Moineau, S. (2003). Biochemistry, Genetics, and Applications of Exopolysaccharide Production in Streptococcus thermophilus: A Review. J DAIRY SCI 86: 407-423 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Paiment, A., Hocking, J., Whitfield, C. (2002). Impact of Phosphorylation of Specific Residues in the Tyrosine Autokinase, Wzc, on Its Activity in Assembly of Group 1 Capsules in Escherichia coli. J. Bacteriol. 184: 6437-6447 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Nagy, G., Dobrindt, U., Schneider, G., Khan, A. S., Hacker, J., Emody, L. (2002). Loss of Regulatory Protein RfaH Attenuates Virulence of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli. Infect. Immun. 70: 4406-4413 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Nakar, D., Gutnick, D. L. (2001). Analysis of the wee gene cluster responsible for the biosynthesis of the polymeric bioemulsifier from the oil-degrading strain Acinetobacter lwoffii RAG-1. Microbiology 147: 1937-1946 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Mao, Y., Doyle, M. P., Chen, J. (2001). Insertion Mutagenesis of wca Reduces Acid and Heat Tolerance of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7. J. Bacteriol. 183: 3811-3815 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Genevaux, P., Wawrzynow, A., Zylicz, M., Georgopoulos, C., Kelley, W. L. (2001). DjlA Is a Third DnaK Co-chaperone of Escherichia coli, and DjlA-mediated Induction of Colanic Acid Capsule Requires DjlA-DnaK Interaction. J. Biol. Chem. 276: 7906-7912 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Wugeditsch, T., Paiment, A., Hocking, J., Drummelsmith, J., Forrester, C., Whitfield, C. (2001). Phosphorylation of Wzc, a Tyrosine Autokinase, Is Essential for Assembly of Group 1 Capsular Polysaccharides in Escherichia coli. J. Biol. Chem. 276: 2361-2371 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


Copyright © 2009 by the American Society for Microbiology.   For an alternate route to Journals.ASM.org, visit: http://intl-journals.asm.org | More Info»