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Cover Picture: Identification of Labile UDP‐Ketosugars in Helicobacter pylori , Campylobacter jejuni and Pseudomonas aeruginosa : Key Metabolites used to make Glycan Virulence Factors (ChemBioChem 12/2006)
Author(s) -
McNally David J.,
Schoenhofen Ian C.,
Mulrooney Erin F.,
Whitfield Dennis M.,
Vinogradov Evgeny,
Lam Joseph S.,
Logan Susan M.,
Brisson JeanRobert
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
chembiochem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.05
H-Index - 126
eISSN - 1439-7633
pISSN - 1439-4227
DOI - 10.1002/cbic.200690036
Subject(s) - campylobacter jejuni , virulence , pseudomonas aeruginosa , pyranose , pyocyanin , microbiology and biotechnology , glycan , bacteria , biofilm , biochemistry , virulence factor , biosynthesis , metabolic pathway , helicobacter pylori , chemistry , biology , enzyme , quorum sensing , glycoprotein , gene , genetics
The cover picture shows 3D models of the pyranose rings of UDP‐sugar metabolites that were identified by examining the PseB reaction from Helicobacter pylori by using NMR spectroscopy. PseB plays an important role in the biosynthesis of pseudaminic acid (Pse)—a sialic acid‐like sugar that is found on the flagella of H. pylori. Pse is essential for bacterial motility and as such is a virulence factor. Since, it is not found in humans, agents that interfere with Pse biosynthesis could offer therapeutic potential. Several bacteria produce sugars that are attractive therapeutic targets. However, their biosynthetic pathways can involve multiple enzymatic reactions that produce unstable metabolites in minute quantities. Examination of the WbjB and WbjC reactions from Pseudomonas aeruginosa , the PglF reaction from C. jejuni and the PseB reaction from C. jejuni and H. pylori with NMR clarified biosynthetic pathways led to the identification of unstable metabolites that had not been previously observed. Further details can be found in the article by D. McNally et al. on p. 1865 ff.