%0 Journal Article %1 claus_molecular_1997 %A Claus, H %A Vogel, U %A Mühlenhoff, M %A Gerardy-Schahn, R %A Frosch, M %D 1997 %J Molecular & General Genetics: MGG %K Acids, Analysis, Bacterial, Biological Cloning, Evolution, Frames, Genes, Genetic Molecular, Neisseria Open Proteins, Reading Recombinant Sequence Serotyping, Sialic Sialyltransferases Variation, bacterial_capsules meningitidis, %N 1 %P 28--34 %T Molecular divergence of the sia locus in different serogroups of Neisseria meningitidis expressing polysialic acid capsules %U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9439566 %V 257 %X The serogroups B, C, W135 and Y of Neisseria meningitidis express chemically and immunologically distinct capsular polysaccharides containing sialic acid. In the case of serogroup B meningococci sialic acid is synthesized by the gene products of a locus termed sia and forms the homopolymers of the capsule. The organization of the genes required for sialic acid synthesis in serogroups B, C, W135 and Y was elucidated by PCR technology. Cloning, sequencing and the functional expression of the polysialyltransferase (PST) genes of serogroups B and C demonstrated that the difference in capsule composition derives from the presence of related, but distinct siaD genes coding for PSTs. Analysis of meningococci of serogroups W135 and Y expressing sialic acid heteropolymers revealed that the DNA sequences of the corresponding genetic loci in these serogroups were highly homologous, but differed completely from the siaD genes of serogroups B and C. This finding suggests that enzymes unrelated to those of serogroups B and C are required for the formation of sialic acid heteropolymers characteristic of the capsules of serogroups W135 and Y.

@article{claus_molecular_1997, abstract = {The serogroups B, C, W135 and Y of Neisseria meningitidis express chemically and immunologically distinct capsular polysaccharides containing sialic acid. In the case of serogroup B meningococci sialic acid is synthesized by the gene products of a locus termed sia and forms the homopolymers of the capsule. The organization of the genes required for sialic acid synthesis in serogroups B, C, W135 and Y was elucidated by {PCR} technology. Cloning, sequencing and the functional expression of the polysialyltransferase {(PST)} genes of serogroups B and C demonstrated that the difference in capsule composition derives from the presence of related, but distinct {siaD} genes coding for {PSTs.} Analysis of meningococci of serogroups W135 and Y expressing sialic acid heteropolymers revealed that the {DNA} sequences of the corresponding genetic loci in these serogroups were highly homologous, but differed completely from the {siaD} genes of serogroups B and C. This finding suggests that enzymes unrelated to those of serogroups B and C are required for the formation of sialic acid heteropolymers characteristic of the capsules of serogroups W135 and Y.}, added-at = {2011-06-24T11:21:47.000+0200}, author = {Claus, H and Vogel, U and Mühlenhoff, M and {Gerardy-Schahn}, R and Frosch, M}, biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/22ecf61761b156c3276dc5d065ed3bdce/ag_vogel}, interhash = {801dc3c2181f23cf5ca0a32f2ff4f137}, intrahash = {2ecf61761b156c3276dc5d065ed3bdce}, issn = {0026-8925}, journal = {Molecular \& General Genetics: {MGG}}, keywords = {Acids, Analysis, Bacterial, Biological Cloning, Evolution, Frames, Genes, Genetic Molecular, Neisseria Open Proteins, Reading Recombinant Sequence Serotyping, Sialic Sialyltransferases Variation, bacterial_capsules meningitidis,}, month = dec, note = {{PMID:} 9439566}, number = 1, pages = {28--34}, timestamp = {2011-08-08T15:39:39.000+0200}, title = {Molecular divergence of the sia locus in different serogroups of Neisseria meningitidis expressing polysialic acid capsules}, url = {http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9439566}, volume = 257, year = 1997 }