Article abstract
Nature Structural & Molecular Biology 15, 130 - 138 (2008)
Published online: 20 January 2008 | doi:10.1038/nsmb.1374
Bacterial polysaccharide co-polymerases share a common framework for control of polymer length
Ante Tocilj1, Christine Munger1, Ariane Proteau1, Renato Morona2, Leanne Purins2, Eunice Ajamian1, John Wagner3, Magdalene Papadopoulos2, Luisa Van Den Bosch2, John L Rubinstein4, James Féthière5, Allan Matte3 & Miroslaw Cygler1,3
Abstract
The chain length distribution of complex polysaccharides present on the bacterial surface is determined by polysaccharide co-polymerases (PCPs) anchored in the inner membrane. We report crystal structures of the periplasmic domains of three PCPs that impart substantially different chain length distributions to surface polysaccharides. Despite very low sequence similarities, they have a common protomer structure with a long central 
-helix extending 100 Å into the periplasm. The protomers self-assemble into bell-shaped oligomers of variable sizes, with a large internal cavity. Electron microscopy shows that one of the full-length PCPs has a similar organization as that observed in the crystal for its periplasmic domain alone. Functional studies suggest that the top of the PCP oligomers is an important region for determining polysaccharide modal length. These structures provide a detailed view of components of the bacterial polysaccharide assembly machinery.
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, 3655 Promenade Sir William Osler, Montréal, Québec H3G 1Y6, Canada.
- Australian Bacterial Pathogenesis Program, School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, Discipline of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
- Biotechnology Research Institute, National Research Council, 6100 Royalmount Avenue, Montréal, Québec H4P 2R2, Canada.
- Molecular Structure and Function Program, the Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada.
- Institut de Recherche en Immunologie et Cancerologie and Department of Pharmacology, Pavillon Marcelle Coutu, University de Montréal, 2900 Edouard-Montpetit, Montréal, Québec H3T 1J4, Canada.
Correspondence to: Miroslaw Cygler1,3 e-mail: mirek.cygler@bri.nrc.ca
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