The lbgAB gene cluster of Haemophilus ducreyi encodes a β-1,4-galactosyltransferase and an α-1,6-DD-heptosyltransferase involved in lipooligosaccharide biosynthesis

Michael V. Tullius, Nancy J. Phillips, N. Karoline Scheffler, Nicole M. Samuels, Robert S. Munson, Eric J. Hansen, Marla Stevens-Riley, Anthony A. Campagnari, Bradford W. Gibson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

All Haemophilus ducreyi strains examined contain a lipooligosaccharide (LOS) consisting of a single but variable branch oligosaccharide that emanates off the first heptose (Hep-I) of a conserved Hep3-phosphorylated 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid-lipid A core. In a previous report, identification of tandem genes, lbgA and lbgB, that are involved in LOS biosynthesis was described (Stevens et al., Infect. Immun. 65:651-660, 1997). In a separate study, the same gene cluster was identified and the lbgB (losB) gene was found to be required for transfer of the second sugar, D-glycero-D-manno-heptose (DD-Hep), of the major branch structure (Gibson et al., J. Bacteriol. 179:5062-5071, 1997). In this study, we identified the function of the neighboring upstream gene, lbgA, and found that it is necessary for addition of the third sugar in the dominant oligosaccharide branch, a galactose-linked β1→4, to the DP-Hep. LOS from an lbgA mutant and an lbgAB double mutant were isolated and were characterized by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, carbohydrate analysis, mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The results showed that the mutant strains synthesize truncated LOS glycoforms that terminate after addition of the first glucose (lbgAB) or the disaccharide DD-Hepα1→6Glcβ1 (lbgA) that is attached to the heptose core. Both mutants show a significant reduction in the ability to adhere to human keratinocytes. Although minor differences were observed after two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of total proteins from the wild-type and mutant strains, the expression levels of the vast majority of proteins were unchanged, suggesting that the differences in adherence and invasion are due to differences in LOS. These studies add to the mounting evidence for a role of full-length LOS structures in the pathophysiology of H. ducreyi infection.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2853-2861
Number of pages9
JournalInfection and immunity
Volume70
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 2002

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Parasitology
  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases

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