Rhamnose biosynthesis in mycoplasmas requires precursor glycans larger than monosaccharide. Issue 5 (19th July 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jordan, David S.; Daubenspeck, James M.; Dybvig, Kevin
• Is Part Of: Molecular microbiology. Volume 89:Issue 5(2013)
• Page Start: 918
• Page End: 928
• Publication Date: 2013-07-19
• Subjects: Molecular microbiology -- Periodicals; 572.829
• DOI: 10.1111/mmi.12320
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0950-382X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Summary</title> <p>Despite the apparent absence of genes coding for the known pathways for biosynthesis, the monosaccharide rhamnose was detected in the <sc>d</sc> configuration in <italic>Mycoplasma pneumoniae</italic> and <italic>Mycoplasma pulmonis</italic>, and in both the <sc>d</sc> and <sc>l</sc> configurations in <italic>Mycoplasma arthritidis</italic>. Surprisingly, the monosaccharide glucose was not a precursor for rhamnose biosynthesis and was not incorporated at detectable levels in glucose‐containing polysaccharides or glycoconjugates. In contrast, carbon atoms from starch, a polymer of glucose, were incorporated into rhamnose in each of the three species examined. When grown in a serum‐free medium supplemented with starch, <italic>M. arthritidis</italic> synthesized higher levels of rhamnose, with a shift in the relative amounts of the <sc>d</sc> and <sc>l</sc> configurations. Our findings suggest the presence of a novel pathway for rhamnose synthesis that is widespread in the genus <italic>Mycoplasma</italic>.</p> </abstract>