Open AccessCloning and characterization of the Neisseria meningitidis rfaC gene encoding α‐1,5 heptosyltransferase I
Author(s) -
Stojiljkovic Igor,
Hwa Vivian,
Larson Jason,
Lin Lan,
So Magdalene,
Nassif Xavier
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1997.tb10392.x
Subject(s) - neisseria meningitidis , cloning (programming) , genetics , gene , biology , molecular cloning , computational biology , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteria , computer science , peptide sequence , programming language
We cloned and characterized the Neisseria meningitidis rfaC gene which encodes an enzyme, α‐1,5 heptosyltransferase I, involved in the synthesis of the deep‐core of the lipooligosaccharide. The N. meningitidis rfaC mutant, obtained by an allelic exchange, produced lipooligosaccharide which migrated faster in sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis than the lipooligosaccharide isolated from the wild‐type N. meningitidis . The N. meningitidis rfaC mutant was not affected by growth in a rich microbiological medium and did not show any defect in adhesion to epithelial cell lines. Conversely, the rfaC mutant was attenuated in the infant rat model of meningococcemia, thus confirming the importance of intact lipooligosaccharide in the virulence of N. meningitidis .