Genes required for glycolipid synthesis and lipoteichoic acid anchoring in Staphylococcus aureus

J Bacteriol. 2007 Mar;189(6):2521-30. doi: 10.1128/JB.01683-06. Epub 2007 Jan 5.

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus lipoteichoic acid (LTA) is composed of a linear 1,3-linked polyglycerolphosphate chain and is tethered to the bacterial membrane by a glycolipid (diglucosyl-diacylglycerol [Glc2-DAG]). Glc2-DAG is synthesized in the bacterial cytoplasm by YpfP, a processive enzyme that transfers glucose to diacylglycerol (DAG), using UDP-glucose as its substrate. Here we present evidence that the S. aureus alpha-phosphoglucomutase (PgcA) and UTP:alpha-glucose 1-phosphate uridyltransferase (GtaB) homologs are required for the synthesis of Glc2-DAG. LtaA (lipoteichoic acid protein A), a predicted membrane permease whose structural gene is located in an operon with ypfP, is not involved in Glc2-DAG synthesis but is required for synthesis of glycolipid-anchored LTA. Our data suggest a model in which LtaA facilitates the transport of Glc2-DAG from the inner (cytoplasmic) leaflet to the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane, delivering Glc2-DAG as a substrate for LTA synthesis, thereby generating glycolipid-anchored LTA. Glycolipid anchoring of LTA appears to play an important role during infection, as S. aureus variants lacking ltaA display defects in the pathogenesis of animal infections.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Computational Biology / methods
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
  • Glycolipids / biosynthesis*
  • Humans
  • Lipopolysaccharides / biosynthesis*
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mutation
  • Phosphoglucomutase / genetics
  • Phosphoglucomutase / metabolism
  • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology
  • Staphylococcal Infections / pathology
  • Staphylococcus aureus / enzymology*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / genetics
  • Staphylococcus aureus / growth & development
  • Staphylococcus aureus / pathogenicity
  • Teichoic Acids / biosynthesis*
  • UTP-Hexose-1-Phosphate Uridylyltransferase / genetics
  • UTP-Hexose-1-Phosphate Uridylyltransferase / metabolism

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Glycolipids
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Teichoic Acids
  • lipoteichoic acid
  • UTP-Hexose-1-Phosphate Uridylyltransferase
  • Phosphoglucomutase