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An O-antigen processing function for Wzx (RfbX): a promising candidate for O-unit flippase
1Department of Microbiology, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Journal of Bacteriology
|April 1, 1996
Summary
The wzx gene in gram-negative bacteria encodes a flippase protein essential for transporting O antigen units across the cell membrane. This translocation is crucial for bacterial cell surface structure and function.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Bacterial Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- O antigen is a major cell surface antigen in gram-negative bacteria.
- Genes for O antigen synthesis are organized in a single gene cluster.
- The wzx (rbfX) gene is a key component of many O-antigen gene clusters.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the function of the wzx (rbfX) gene in O antigen biosynthesis.
- To determine the role of the wzx gene product in O-unit translocation.
Main Methods:
- Construction and analysis of a wzx mutant in gram-negative bacteria.
- Biochemical analysis of O-unit accumulation in the mutant.
Main Results:
- A wzx mutant accumulates undecaprenol pyrophosphate-linked O units.
- These accumulated O units are located on the cytoplasmic side of the cytoplasmic membrane.
- This suggests a role for Wzx in translocating O units across the membrane.
Conclusions:
- The wzx gene encodes a flippase protein.
- This flippase is responsible for the translocation of O-unit precursors across the cytoplasmic membrane.
- This mechanism is vital for O antigen assembly and bacterial cell surface integrity.