Document Detail


Biosynthesis of the linkage region of the mycobacterial cell wall.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  8631826     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
The "core" structure of the cell wall of Mycobacterium and related genera is unique among prokaryotes, consisting of a covalently linked complex of mycolic acids, D-arabinan and D-galactan (mycolylarabinogalactan, mAG), which, in turn, is linked to peptidoglycan via a special linkage unit, -alpha-L-Rhap(1-->3)-D-GlcNAc-P-. Little is known of the biosynthesis of this complex, although it is the site of action of several common anti-tuberculosis drugs. Isolated cell membranes of Mycobacterium smegmatis catalyzed the incorporation of [14C]GlcNAc from UDP-[14C]GlcNAc into two glycolipids (1 and 2) and of [14C]Rha from TDP-[14C]Rha into glycolipid 2. These products were characterized as polyprenol-P-P-GlcNAc (glycolipid 1) and polyprenol-P-P-GlcNAc-Rha (glycolipid 2) based on sensitivity of synthesis to tunicamycin, chromatographic characterization of the products of mild acid hydrolysis, and mass spectral analysis of the glycosyl and polyprenyl units. Glycolipids 1 and 2 were shown to be precursors of the linkage unit in polymerized cell wall. The inclusion in the assays of UDP-[14C]Galp and a preparation of cell walls allowed the incorporation of [14C]Gal into two further glycolipids (3 and 4). Preliminary evidence indicates a precursor-product relationship among glycolipids 1, 2, 3, and 4. Thus, the first steps in the biosynthesis of the mycobacterial cell wall involve synthesis of the linkage disaccharide on a polyprenyl-P-P carrier followed by growth of the galactan unit. Assays are thus defined for the screening of new anti-tuberculosis drugs active against cell wall synthesis.
Authors:
K Mikusová; M Mikus; G S Besra; I Hancock; P J Brennan
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The Journal of biological chemistry     Volume:  271     ISSN:  0021-9258     ISO Abbreviation:  J. Biol. Chem.     Publication Date:  1996 Mar 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1996-07-03     Completed Date:  1996-07-03     Revised Date:  2007-11-14    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  2985121R     Medline TA:  J Biol Chem     Country:  UNITED STATES    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  7820-8     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, 80523, USA.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Carbohydrate Conformation
Carbohydrate Sequence
Carbon Radioisotopes
Cell Wall / metabolism
Chromatography, Thin Layer
Galactose / metabolism
Kinetics
Lipopolysaccharides / biosynthesis*,  chemistry,  isolation & purification
Models, Molecular
Molecular Sequence Data
Mycobacterium / metabolism*
Oligosaccharides / biosynthesis,  chemistry,  isolation & purification
Uridine Diphosphate N-Acetylglucosamine / metabolism
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
AI 18357/AI/NIAID NIH HHS; AI 30189/AI/NIAID NIH HHS
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Carbon Radioisotopes; 0/Lipopolysaccharides; 0/Oligosaccharides; 26566-61-0/Galactose; 528-04-1/Uridine Diphosphate N-Acetylglucosamine

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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