Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 17, 2025

Live Cell Fluorescence Microscopy to Observe Essential Processes During Microbial Cell Growth
07:28

Live Cell Fluorescence Microscopy to Observe Essential Processes During Microbial Cell Growth

Published on: November 24, 2017

16.0K

Recent advances in understanding of enterobacterial common antigen synthesis and regulation

Haley C Bennett1, Angela M Mitchell1

  • 1Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.

Open Biology
|July 1, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Antibiotic resistance is a major health threat, particularly in Gram-negative bacteria. This study explores the structure, function, and biosynthesis of enterobacterial common antigen (ECA), a key component of the bacterial outer membrane.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Antibiotic resistance poses a significant global health challenge, especially concerning Gram-negative bacteria.
  • The outer membrane (OM) of Gram-negative bacteria acts as a permeability barrier, limiting antibiotic entry.
  • Enterobacterial common antigen (ECA) is a conserved component of the Enterobacterales OM, implicated in its barrier function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advancements in understanding the structure, biosynthesis, regulation, and functions of ECA.
  • To explore the role of ECA in the Gram-negative bacterial outer membrane permeability barrier.
  • To examine the interplay between cell envelope and surface antigen biosynthesis pathways.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent studies on ECA.
  • Analysis of ECA's role in bacterial outer membrane structure and function.
  • Investigation of cell envelope biosynthesis pathways.

Main Results:

  • ECA plays a significant role in the permeability barrier of the Gram-negative bacterial outer membrane.
  • Recent research has shed light on ECA's structure, biosynthesis, and regulation.
  • Interactions within cell envelope biosynthesis pathways influence surface antigen production.

Conclusions:

  • Further research into ECA and related pathways is crucial for combating antibiotic resistance.
  • Understanding ECA's function may reveal new targets for antimicrobial strategies.
  • ECA's role in the outer membrane barrier is critical for bacterial survival and antibiotic resistance.
Keywords:
O-antigenenterobacterial common antigengene expressionouter membranepermeabilitysurface antigens

More Related Videos

DNA-affinity-purified Chip DAP-chip Method to Determine Gene Targets for Bacterial Two component Regulatory Systems12:24

DNA-affinity-purified Chip DAP-chip Method to Determine Gene Targets for Bacterial Two component Regulatory Systems

Published on: July 21, 2014

16.9K
Engineering Adherent Bacteria by Creating a Single Synthetic Curli Operon15:28

Engineering Adherent Bacteria by Creating a Single Synthetic Curli Operon

Published on: November 16, 2012

14.6K

Related Concept Videos

Global Regulatory Systems01:28

Global Regulatory Systems

Global regulatory systems in bacteria enable rapid and coordinated responses to environmental changes by integrating sensory inputs with gene expression, ensuring efficient adaptation to fluctuating conditions. Key global regulatory mechanisms include regulons, two-component systems, sigma factors, and secondary messengers.Regulons and Global RegulatorsA regulon is a collection of genes and operons controlled by a common global regulator. These regulators enable bacteria to prioritize resource...
82
Stringent Response in E. coli01:23

Stringent Response in E. coli

Bacterial growth is closely tied to nutrient availability, with cells proliferating exponentially under favorable conditions and entering a stationary phase when resources become scarce. This transition is mediated by a regulatory mechanism known as the stringent response, which allows bacteria to adapt to nutrient deprivation by modulating gene expression and metabolic activity.During nutrient scarcity, intracellular amino acid levels decline. It results in the accumulation of uncharged tRNAs...
61
Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing01:28

Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing

Quorum sensing is a mechanism of bacterial communication that enables coordinated gene expression in response to changes in population density. This facilitates collective behaviors that enhance survival, resource acquisition, and ecological adaptation. This process relies on small signaling molecules called autoinducers that accumulate as bacterial populations grow. When a critical threshold concentration of autoinducers is reached, bacterial cells collectively modify gene expression,...
97
Coordination of Gene Expression Processes in Bacteria01:29

Coordination of Gene Expression Processes in Bacteria

The DNA replication, transcription, and translation processes are intricately coupled in bacteria, allowing efficient gene expression and rapid protein synthesis. While this physical and functional coordination is advantageous, it introduces challenges that bacteria overcome through specific regulatory mechanisms.Coupling of Replication, Transcription, and TranslationThe coupling of replication, transcription, and translation is a hallmark of bacterial gene expression. As the replisome unwinds...
160
Peptidoglycan Synthesis01:28

Peptidoglycan Synthesis

Structure of PeptidoglycanPeptidoglycan is a vital structural component of the bacterial cell wall, providing mechanical strength and shape to the cell. It consists of repeating units of two sugars—N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) and N-acetylmuramic acid (NAM)—linked by β-1,4 glycosidic bonds. These sugar chains are cross-linked by short peptide chains, forming a mesh-like polymer that surrounds the bacterial plasma membrane.Cytoplasmic Phase – Precursor SynthesisPeptidoglycan...
478
Constitutive and Regulated Gene Expression01:27

Constitutive and Regulated Gene Expression

Gene expression in prokaryotes is governed by constitutive and regulated systems, allowing cells to balance the production of essential proteins with adaptive responses to environmental changes.Constitutive Gene ExpressionConstitutive, or housekeeping, genes are continuously expressed as they encode proteins vital for fundamental cellular processes. These include enzymes for glycolysis, ribosomal components for protein synthesis, and proteins involved in DNA replication. Their constant...
140