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

CapE, a 47-Amino-Acid Peptide, Is Necessary for Bacillus anthracis Polyglutamate Capsule Synthesis

Toxines et Pathogénie Bactérienne (CNRS, URA 2172), Institut Pasteur, Paris, France

Received 20 July 2005/ Accepted 31 August 2005

Polyglutamate is found in various bacteria, but displays different functions depending on the species and their environment. Here, we describe a minimal polyglutamate synthesis system in Bacillus anthracis. In addition to the three genes previously described as sufficient for polyglutamate synthesis, this system includes a small open reading frame, capE, belonging to the cap operon. The polyglutamate system's requirement for the five cap genes, for capsulation and anchoring, was assayed in nonpolar mutants. The capA, capB, capC, and capE genes are all necessary and are sufficient for polyglutamate synthesis by B. anthracis. capD is required for polyglutamate anchoring to the peptidoglycan. The 47-amino-acid peptide encoded by capE is localized in the B. anthracis membrane. It is not a regulator and it is required for polyglutamate synthesis, suggesting that it has a structural role in polyglutamate synthesis. CapE appears to interact with CapA. Bacillus subtilis ywtC is similar to capE and we named it pgsE. Genes similar to capE or pgsE were found in B. subtilis natto, Bacillus licheniformis, and Staphylococcus epidermidis, species that produce polyglutamate. All the bacterial polyglutamate synthesis systems analyzed show a similar genetic organization and, we suggest, the same protein requirements.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• van Schaik, W., Prigent, J., Fouet, A. (2007). The stringent response of Bacillus anthracis contributes to sporulation but not to virulence. Microbiology 153: 4234-4239 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Heninger, S., Drysdale, M., Lovchik, J., Hutt, J., Lipscomb, M. F., Koehler, T. M., Lyons, C. R. (2006). Toxin-Deficient Mutants of Bacillus anthracis Are Lethal in a Murine Model for Pulmonary Anthrax. Infect. Immun. 74: 6067-6074 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Keim, P., Mock, M., Young, J., Koehler, T. M. (2006). The International Bacillus anthracis, B. cereus, and B. thuringiensis Conference, "Bacillus-ACT05".. J. Bacteriol. 188: 3433-3441 [Full Text]