| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|||||||||
Genetics and Molecular Biology |
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia1
University of Oxford, Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK2
National Institute of Public Health and Environmental Protection, Bilthoven, The Netherlands3
Author for correspondence: Michael P. Jennings. Tel: +61 7 3365 4879. Fax: +61 7 3365 4620. e-mail: jennings{at}biosci.uq.edu.au
Neisseria meningitidis strains express a diverse range of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) structures that have been classified into 12 immunotypes. A feature of meningococcal LPS is the reversible, high-frequency switching of expression (phase variation) of terminal LPS structures. A number of studies are strongly suggestive of a key role for these terminal structures, and their phase-variable expression, in pathogenesis. In a previous study, a locus of three LPS biosynthetic genes, lgtABE, involved in the biosynthesis of one of these terminal structures, lacto-N-neotetraose, was described. The molecular mechanism of phase-variable expression of this structure is by high-frequency mutation in a homopolymeric tract of G residues in the lgtA gene. To investigate the genetic basis of the structural differences between the immunotypes, and the potential for strains to express alternative immunotypes, this locus was examined in all of the immunotype strains. Initially, the lgt locus of strain 126E, an L1 immunotype strain, was cloned and sequenced, revealing two active genes, lgtC and lgtE. The remnants of the lgtA and lgtB genes and an inactive lgtD gene were also present, indicating that the locus may have once contained five active genes, similar to a locus previously reported in Neisseria gonorrhoeae strain F62. Probes based on each of the lgt genes (ABCDE), and the recently reported lgtG gene, were used to determine the presence or absence of lgt genes within individual strains, allowing the prediction of the phase variation repertoire of these strains. Sequencing to determine the nature of homopolymeric tract regions within the lgt genes was carried out to establish the potential for LPS switching. In general, the set of strains examined could be sorted into two distinct groups: one group which phase-vary the 
-chain extension via lgtA or lgtC but cannot make ß-chain; the second group phase-vary the ß-chain extension via lgtG but do not vary -chain (lacto-N-neotetraose).
Keywords: phase variation, lgt genes, lipopolysaccharide, lipooligosaccharide, Neisseria meningitidis
The GenBank accession number for the sequence reported in this paper is U65788.
a Present address: SmithKline Beecham Biological s.a., Rue de I’Institut, 89 B-1330 Rixensart, Belgium.
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  J. Geurtsen, M. Dzieciatkowska, L. Steeghs, H.-J. Hamstra, J. Boleij, K. Broen, G. Akkerman, H. el Hassan, J. Li, J. C. Richards, et al. Identification of a Novel Lipopolysaccharide Core Biosynthesis Gene Cluster in Bordetella pertussis, and Influence of Core Structure and Lipid A Glucosamine Substitution on Endotoxic Activity Infect. Immun., July 1, 2009; 77(7): 2602 - 2611. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. Takahashi, R. W. Carlson, A. Muszynski, B. Choudhury, K. S. Kim, D. S. Stephens, and H. Watanabe Modification of Lipooligosaccharide with Phosphoethanolamine by LptA in Neisseria meningitidis Enhances Meningococcal Adhesion to Human Endothelial and Epithelial Cells Infect. Immun., December 1, 2008; 76(12): 5777 - 5789. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. D. Bayliss, J. C. Hoe, K. Makepeace, P. Martin, D. W. Hood, and E. R. Moxon Neisseria meningitidis Escape from the Bactericidal Activity of a Monoclonal Antibody Is Mediated by Phase Variation of lgtG and Enhanced by a Mutator Phenotype Infect. Immun., November 1, 2008; 76(11): 5038 - 5048. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. Schmitt, D. Turner, M. Boesl, M. Abele, M. Frosch, and O. Kurzai A Functional Two-Partner Secretion System Contributes to Adhesion of Neisseria meningitidis to Epithelial Cells J. Bacteriol., November 15, 2007; 189(22): 7968 - 7976. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 E. Wedege, K. Bolstad, A. Aase, T. K. Herstad, L. McCallum, E. Rosenqvist, P. Oster, and D. Martin Functional and Specific Antibody Responses in Adult Volunteers in New Zealand Who Were Given One of Two Different Meningococcal Serogroup B Outer Membrane Vesicle Vaccines Clin. Vaccine Immunol., July 1, 2007; 14(7): 830 - 838. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. El Khattabi, H. Adams, E. Heezius, P. Hermans, F. Detmers, B. Maassen, P. van der Ley, J. Tommassen, T. Verrips, and J. Stam Llama Single-Chain Antibody That Blocks Lipopolysaccharide Binding and Signaling: Prospects for Therapeutic Applications Clin. Vaccine Immunol., October 1, 2006; 13(10): 1079 - 1086. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. M. Kahler, S. Lyons-Schindler, B. Choudhury, J. Glushka, R. W. Carlson, and D. S. Stephens O-Acetylation of the Terminal N-Acetylglucosamine of the Lipooligosaccharide Inner Core in Neisseria meningitidis: INFLUENCE ON INNER CORE STRUCTURE AND ASSEMBLY J. Biol. Chem., July 21, 2006; 281(29): 19939 - 19948. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 P. Zhu, R. A. Boykins, and C.-M. Tsai Genetic and functional analyses of the lgtH gene, a member of the {beta}-1,4-galactosyltransferase gene family in the genus Neisseria Microbiology, January 1, 2006; 152(1): 123 - 134. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Newcombe, J. C. Jeynes, E. Mendoza, J. Hinds, G. L. Marsden, R. A. Stabler, M. Marti, and J. J. McFadden Phenotypic and Transcriptional Characterization of the Meningococcal PhoPQ System, a Magnesium-Sensing Two-Component Regulatory System That Controls Genes Involved in Remodeling the Meningococcal Cell Surface J. Bacteriol., July 15, 2005; 187(14): 4967 - 4975. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. M. Kahler, A. Datta, Y.-l. Tzeng, R. W. Carlson, and D. S. Stephens Inner core assembly and structure of the lipooligosaccharide of Neisseria meningitidis: capacity of strain NMB to express all known immunotype epitopes Glycobiology, April 1, 2005; 15(4): 409 - 419. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. Segal and A. J. Pollard Vaccines against bacterial meningitis Br. Med. Bull., March 31, 2005; 72(1): 65 - 81. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. Martin, L. Sun, D. W. Hood, and E. R. Moxon Involvement of genes of genome maintenance in the regulation of phase variation frequencies in Neisseria meningitidis Microbiology, September 1, 2004; 150(9): 3001 - 3012. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
Y.-L. Tzeng, A. Datta, K. Ambrose, M. Lo, J. K. Davies, R. W. Carlson, D. S. Stephens, and C. M. Kahler The MisR/MisS Two-component Regulatory System Influences Inner Core Structure and Immunotype of Lipooligosaccharide in Neisseria meningitidis J. Biol. Chem., August 13, 2004; 279(33): 35053 - 35062. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 H. Wildschutte, D. M. Wolfe, A. Tamewitz, and J. G. Lawrence Protozoan predation, diversifying selection, and the evolution of antigenic diversity in Salmonella PNAS, July 20, 2004; 101(29): 10644 - 10649. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. W. van der Woude and A. J. Baumler Phase and Antigenic Variation in Bacteria Clin. Microbiol. Rev., July 1, 2004; 17(3): 581 - 611. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. C. Braun and D. C. Stein The lgtABCDE Gene Cluster, Involved in Lipooligosaccharide Biosynthesis in Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Contains Multiple Promoter Sequences J. Bacteriol., February 15, 2004; 186(4): 1038 - 1049. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. A. J. Gidney, J. S. Plested, S. Lacelle, P. A. Coull, J. C. Wright, K. Makepeace, J.-R. Brisson, A. D. Cox, E. R. Moxon, and J. C. Richards Development, Characterization, and Functional Activity of a Panel of Specific Monoclonal Antibodies to Inner Core Lipopolysaccharide Epitopes in Neisseria meningitidis Infect. Immun., January 1, 2004; 72(1): 559 - 569. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Ram, A. D. Cox, J. C. Wright, U. Vogel, S. Getzlaff, R. Boden, J. Li, J. S. Plested, S. Meri, S. Gulati, et al. Neisserial Lipooligosaccharide Is a Target for Complement Component C4b: INNER CORE PHOSPHOETHANOLAMINE RESIDUES DEFINE C4b LINKAGE SPECIFICITY J. Biol. Chem., December 19, 2003; 278(51): 50853 - 50862. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 P. Zhu, R. S. W. Tsang, and C.-M. Tsai Nonencapsulated Neisseria meningitidis Strain Produces Amylopectin from Sucrose: Altering the Concept for Differentiation between N. meningitidis and N. polysaccharea J. Clin. Microbiol., January 1, 2003; 41(1): 273 - 278. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Piekarowicz and D. C. Stein Biochemical Properties of Neisseria gonorrhoeae LgtE J. Bacteriol., December 1, 2002; 184(23): 6410 - 6416. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
Y. Tong, D. Arking, S. Ye, B. Reinhold, V. Reinhold, and D. C. Stein Neisseria gonorrhoeaestrain PID2 simultaneously expresses six chemically related lipooligosaccharide structures Glycobiology, September 1, 2002; 12(9): 523 - 533. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. Zhu, M. J. Klutch, M. C. Bash, R. S. W. Tsang, L.-K. Ng, and C.-M. Tsai Genetic diversity of three lgt loci for biosynthesis of lipooligosaccharide (LOS) in Neisseria species Microbiology, June 1, 2002; 148(6): 1833 - 1844. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. A. S. Snyder, S. A. Butcher, and N. J. Saunders Comparative whole-genome analyses reveal over 100 putative phase-variable genes in the pathogenic Neisseria spp. Microbiology, August 1, 2001; 147(8): 2321 - 2332. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. R. Lafontaine, N. J. Wagner, and E. J. Hansen Expression of the Moraxella catarrhalis UspA1 Protein Undergoes Phase Variation and Is Regulated at the Transcriptional Level J. Bacteriol., March 1, 2001; 183(5): 1540 - 1551. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. A. S. Snyder, N. J. Saunders, and W. M. Shafer A Putatively Phase Variable Gene (dca) Required for Natural Competence in Neisseria gonorrhoeae but Not Neisseria meningitidis Is Located within the Division Cell Wall (dcw) Gene Cluster J. Bacteriol., February 15, 2001; 183(4): 1233 - 1241. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. Gronow and H. Brade Invited review: Lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis: which steps do bacteria need to survive? Innate Immunity, February 1, 2001; 7(1): 3 - 23. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
F. Sebbane, A. Devalckenaere, J. Foulon, E. Carniel, and M. Simonet Silencing and Reactivation of Urease in Yersinia pestis Is Determined by One G Residue at a Specific Position in the ureD Gene Infect. Immun., January 1, 2001; 69(1): 170 - 176. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. van der Ende, C. T. P. Hopman, and J. Dankert Multiple Mechanisms of Phase Variation of PorA in Neisseria meningitidis Infect. Immun., December 1, 2000; 68(12): 6685 - 6690. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. M. Power, L. F. Roddam, M. Dieckelmann, Y. N. Srikhanta, Y. Cheng Tan, A. W. Berrington, and M. P. Jennings Genetic characterization of pilin glycosylation in Neisseria meningitidis Microbiology, April 1, 2000; 146(4): 967 - 979. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
W. W. Wakarchuk, D. Watson, F. St. Michael, J. Li, Y. Wu, J.-R. Brisson, N. M. Young, and M. Gilbert Dependence of the Bi-functional Nature of a Sialyltransferase from Neisseria meningitidis on a Single Amino Acid Substitution J. Biol. Chem., April 13, 2001; 276(16): 12785 - 12790. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Gilbert, M.-F. Karwaski, S. Bernatchez, N. M. Young, E. Taboada, J. Michniewicz, A.-M. Cunningham, and W. W. Wakarchuk The Genetic Bases for the Variation in the Lipo-oligosaccharide of the Mucosal Pathogen, Campylobacter jejuni. BIOSYNTHESIS OF SIALYLATED GANGLIOSIDE MIMICS IN THE CORE OLIGOSACCHARIDE J. Biol. Chem., January 4, 2002; 277(1): 327 - 337. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
| INT J SYST EVOL MICROBIOL | MICROBIOLOGY | J GEN VIROL |
| J MED MICROBIOL | ALL SGM JOURNALS | |
