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Topological and transcriptional analysis of pssL gene product: a putative Wzx-like exopolysaccharide translocase in Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii TA1

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Abstract

An identified pssL gene is yet another one, besides the pssT, pssN and pssP genes, encoding for a protein engaged in polysaccharide polymerization and export in Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii strain TA1 (RtTA1). Amino acid sequence similarity and hypothetical protein secondary structure placed the PssL protein within Wzx (RfbX) translocases with putative flippase function that belong to the polysaccharide specific transport (PST) family. The predicted secondary structure of the PssL membrane protein was examined with a series of PssL–PhoA and PssL–LacZ translational fusions. The results support the hypothesis of PssL being a member of PST protein family comprising transporters with 12 membrane spanning segments and amino and carboxyl termini located in the cytoplasm. Results of semi-quantitative RT-PCR showed that the initial abundance of mRNA encoding PssL protein was relatively lower when compared to the quantity of the previously identified PssT membrane protein. PssL might be a good candidate for Wzx-like protein that together with PssT (Wzy protein) could be responsible for Wzx/Wzy-like-dependent EPS polymerization and translocation in RtTA1.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a grant from the Polish Committee for Scientific Research no. 2 P04A 0–34 26. A. Mazur was the recipient of a fellowship from The Foundation for Polish Science.

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  1. Department of General Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of M. Curie-Skłodowska, 19 Akademicka St., 20-033, Lublin, Poland

    Andrzej Mazur, Małgorzata Marczak, Jarosław E. Król & Anna Skorupska

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  1. Andrzej Mazur
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Correspondence to Andrzej Mazur.

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Mazur, A., Marczak, M., Król, J.E. et al. Topological and transcriptional analysis of pssL gene product: a putative Wzx-like exopolysaccharide translocase in Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii TA1. Arch Microbiol 184, 1–10 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-005-0018-z

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