Biosynthesis and function of cell-surface polysaccharides in the social bacterium Myxococcus xanthus.

María Pérez-Burgos, Lotte Søgaard-Andersen

Biological chemistry 2020 Nov 26

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In bacteria, cell-surface polysaccharides fulfill important physiological functions, including interactions with the environment and other cells as well as protection from diverse stresses. The Gram-negative delta-proteobacterium Myxococcus xanthus is a model to study social behaviors in bacteria. M. xanthus synthesizes four cell-surface polysaccharides, i.e., exopolysaccharide (EPS), biosurfactant polysaccharide (BPS), spore coat polysaccharide, and O-antigen. Here, we describe recent progress in elucidating the three Wzx/Wzy-dependent pathways for EPS, BPS and spore coat polysaccharide biosynthesis and the ABC transporter-dependent pathway for O-antigen biosynthesis. Moreover, we describe the functions of these four cell-surface polysaccharides in the social life cycle of M. xanthus.

Citation

María Pérez-Burgos, Lotte Søgaard-Andersen. Biosynthesis and function of cell-surface polysaccharides in the social bacterium Myxococcus xanthus. Biological chemistry. 2020 Nov 26;401(12):1375-1387