Biopolym. Cell. 2014; 30(6):443-447.
http://dx.doi.org/10.7124/bc.0008BE
Structure and Function of Biopolymers
The effect of waaL genes deletion from Yersinia enterocolitica O:3 genome on bacteria LPS’ phenotype
1, 2Shevchenko J. I., 1Pozur V. K., 2Skurnik M.
  1. Educational and Scientific Center "Institute of Biology",
    Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv
    64/13, Volodymyrska Str., Kyiv, Ukraine, 01601
  2. Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki
    Haartmaninkatu 3 (P.O. Box 21) FIN-00014, Finland

Abstract

Aim. To estimate WaaL ligase contribution in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) phenotype profile formation of Y. enterocolitica O:3 (YeO3) bacteria. Methods. The waaL-knock-out mutants were created by an allelic exchange strategy. The LPS phenotypes of created mutants were visualized by silver-stained DOC-PAGE and immunoblotting with specific outer core (core oligosaccharide, hexasaccharide, OC) and O-polysaccharide (OPS or O-Ag) monoclonal antibodies. Results. Deletion of waaLOS gene from YeO3 genome has a marked effect on OC ligation in either single or double mutants. The waaLPS deletion has an opposite effect on the OPS ligation – barely detected increasing of OPS bands. Conclusions. The LPS ligases of YeO3 exhibit relaxed donor substrate specificity. Under given conditions the effect of WaaLOS ligase is more significant for OC and OPS ligation onto lipid A than that of WaaLPS.
Keywords: WaaL ligase, LPS, Yersinia enterocolitica, DOC-PAGE
Full text: (PDF, in English)

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