Thu, 21 Aug 2008 07:17:28 BST CiteULike: xingxu Friedrich http://www.citeulike.org/user/xingxu/author/Friedrich CiteULike.org en-gb Copyright © 2004-2008 citeulike.org http://www.citeulike.org/user/xingxu/article/2733248 <i>FEMS Microbiology Letters, Vol. 210, No. 2. (2002), pp. 165-172.</i><br /><br />Abstract Helicobacter pylori possesses a gene (HP0326/JHP309) homologous to neuA of other bacteria, encoding a cytidyl monophosphate-N-acetylneuraminic acid synthetase-homologous enzyme in its N-terminal portion. We analysed the function of this gene, which is controlled by a flagellar class 2 sigma54 promoter, in flagellar biosynthesis. HP0326/JHP309 actually represents a bicistronic operon consisting of a neuA and a flmD-like putative glycosyl transferase gene. An isogenic flmD mutant synthesized basal bodies but no filaments, was non-motile, and expressed severely reduced amounts of a FlaA flagellin of reduced molecular mass. FlaA flagellin was found to be glycosylated in its exported form within the flagellar filament, but not inside the cytoplasm. Glycosylated FlaA was not detectable in the flmD mutant. Together with other genes in the H. pylori genome, a proposed function of the neuA/flmD gene products could be to provide a pathway for glycosylation of flagellin and other extracytoplasmic molecules during type III secretion. The neuA/flmD gene cluster of Helicobacter pylori is involved in flagellar biosynthesis and flagellin glycosylation Christine Josenhans Lutz Vossebein Susanne Friedrich Sebastian Suerbaum doi:10.1111/j.1574-6968.2002.tb11176.x FEMS Microbiology Letters, Vol. 210, No. 2. (2002), pp. 165-172. 2008-04-29T09:31:59-00:00 2002 FEMS Microbiology Letters 210 2 165 172 flagella glycosylation pylori