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

Abstract: 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.

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Biosynthesis and function of cell-surface polysaccharides in the social bacterium Myxococcus xanthus ; volume:401 ; number:12 ; year:2020 ; pages:1375-1387 ; extent:013 ; Biological chemistry ; 401, Heft 12 (2020), 1375-1387 (gesamt 013)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Pérez-Burgos, María ; Søgaard-Andersen, Lotte

Further information

• DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2020-0217
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2408061629399.131272717161
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 14.08.2025, 10:55 AM CEST