This Article
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 Monday, S. R.
Right arrow Articles by Schiller, N. L.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Monday, S. R.
Right arrow Articles by Schiller, N. L.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

J. Bacteriol., 02 1996, 625-632, Vol 178, No. 3
Copyright © 1996, American Society for Microbiology

Alginate synthesis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: the role of AlgL (alginate lyase) and AlgX

SR Monday and NL Schiller
Division of Biomedical Sciences, University of California, Riverside 92521-0121, USA.

Previous studies localized an alginate lyase gene (algL) within the alginate biosynthetic gene cluster at 34 min on the Pseudomonas aeruginosa chromosome. Insertion of a Tn501 polar transposon in a gene (algX) directly upstream of algL in mucoid P. aeruginosa FRD1 inactivated expression of algX, algL, and other downstream genes, including algA. This strain is phenotypically nonmucoid; however, alginate production could be restored by complementation in trans with a plasmid carrying all of the genes inactivated by the insertion, including algL and algX. Alginate production was also recovered when a merodiploid that generated a complete alginate gene cluster on the chromosome was constructed. However, alginate production by merodiploids formed in the algX::Tn501 mutant using an alginate cluster with an algL deletion was not restored to wild-type levels unless algL was provided on a plasmid in trans. In addition, complementation studies of Tn501 mutants using plasmids containing specific deletions in either algL or algX revealed that both genes were required to restore the mucoid phenotype. Escherichia coli strains which expressed algX produced a unique protein of approximately 53 kDa, consistent with the gene product predicted from the DNA sequencing data. These studies demonstrate that AlgX, whose biochemical function remains to be defined, and AlgL, which has alginate lyase activity, are both involved in alginate production by P. aeruginosa.


This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Remminghorst, U., Rehm, B. H. A. (2006). In Vitro Alginate Polymerization and the Functional Role of Alg8 in Alginate Production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 72: 298-305 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Bakkevig, K., Sletta, H., Gimmestad, M., Aune, R., Ertesvag, H., Degnes, K., Christensen, B. E., Ellingsen, T. E., Valla, S. (2005). Role of the Pseudomonas fluorescens Alginate Lyase (AlgL) in Clearing the Periplasm of Alginates Not Exported to the Extracellular Environment. J. Bacteriol. 187: 8375-8384 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Jain, S., Ohman, D. E. (2005). Role of an Alginate Lyase for Alginate Transport in Mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Infect. Immun. 73: 6429-6436 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Douthit, S. A., Dlakic, M., Ohman, D. E., Franklin, M. J. (2005). Epimerase Active Domain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa AlgG, a Protein That Contains a Right-Handed {beta}-Helix. J. Bacteriol. 187: 4573-4583 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Albrecht, M. T., Schiller, N. L. (2005). Alginate Lyase (AlgL) Activity Is Required for Alginate Biosynthesis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. J. Bacteriol. 187: 3869-3872 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Robles-Price, A., Wong, T. Y., Sletta, H., Valla, S., Schiller, N. L. (2004). AlgX Is a Periplasmic Protein Required for Alginate Biosynthesis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. J. Bacteriol. 186: 7369-7377 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Yamasaki, M., Moriwaki, S., Miyake, O., Hashimoto, W., Murata, K., Mikami, B. (2004). Structure and Function of a Hypothetical Pseudomonas aeruginosa Protein PA1167 Classified into Family PL-7: A NOVEL ALGINATE LYASE WITH A {beta}-SANDWICH FOLD. J. Biol. Chem. 279: 31863-31872 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Gimmestad, M., Sletta, H., Ertesvag, H., Bakkevig, K., Jain, S., Suh, S.-j., Skjak-Braek, G., Ellingsen, T. E., Ohman, D. E., Valla, S. (2003). The Pseudomonas fluorescens AlgG Protein, but Not Its Mannuronan C-5-Epimerase Activity, Is Needed for Alginate Polymer Formation. J. Bacteriol. 185: 3515-3523 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Elbein, A. D., Pan, Y.T., Pastuszak, I., Carroll, D. (2003). New insights on trehalose: a multifunctional molecule. Glycobiology 13: 17R-27R [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Yoshida, T., Ayabe, Y., Yasunaga, M., Usami, Y., Habe, H., Nojiri, H., Omori, T. (2003). Genes involved in the synthesis of the exopolysaccharide methanolan by the obligate methylotroph Methylobacillus sp. strain 12S. Microbiology 149: 431-444 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Preston, L. A., Wong, T. Y., Bender, C. L., Schiller, N. L. (2000). Characterization of Alginate Lyase from Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae. J. Bacteriol. 182: 6268-6271 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Rocchetta, H. L., Burrows, L. L., Lam, J. S. (1999). Genetics of O-Antigen Biosynthesis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev. 63: 523-553 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Fakhr, M. K., Peñaloza-Vázquez, A., Chakrabarty, A. M., Bender, C. L. (1999). Regulation of Alginate Biosynthesis in Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae. J. Bacteriol. 181: 3478-3485 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Peciña, A., Pascual, A., Paneque, A. (1999). Cloning and Expression of the algL Gene, Encoding the Azotobacter chroococcum Alginate Lyase: Purification and Characterization of the Enzyme. J. Bacteriol. 181: 1409-1414 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Ertesvåg, H., Erlien, F., Skjåk-Bræk, G., Rehm, B. H. A., Valla, S. (1998). Biochemical Properties and Substrate Specificities of a Recombinantly Produced Azotobacter vinelandii Alginate Lyase. J. Bacteriol. 180: 3779-3784 [Abstract] [Full Text]