Open AccessNeuD plays a role in the synthesis of sialic acid in Escherichia coli K1
Author(s) -
Daines Dayle A.,
Wright Lori F.,
Chaffin Donald O.,
Rubens Craig E.,
Silver Richard P.
Publication year - 2000
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.1574-6968.2000.tb09244.x
Subject(s) - escherichia coli , sialic acid , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteria , biochemistry , biology , genetics , gene
The polysialic acid capsule of Escherichia coli K1 is an essential virulence determinant. The kps gene cluster, which encodes the proteins necessary for polymer synthesis and transport, is divided into three functional regions. In this report, we present evidence that the neuD gene from region 2 is involved in sialic acid synthesis. A non‐polar chromosomal deletion in neuD was constructed. The defect was complemented by neuD in trans or by the addition of exogenous sialic acid. A NeuD homologue, Neu III D, from serotype III Streptococcus agalactiae (GBS) also restored capsule expression to the neuD deletion strain. These data confirm the role of neuD in E. coli sialic acid capsule synthesis and demonstrate that the neu III D homologue from GBS shares a similar enzymatic function.