Biosynthesis of lipopolysaccharide O antigens

Abstract

Lipopolysaccharide O antigens are important virulence determinants for many bacteria. O-antigen synthesis is an interesting problem in cell-surface assembly. There are two known assembly pathways, which differ in the cellular location of their polymerization steps and in the direction of chain polymerization. Some reactions are shared with those for other surface polymers, such as capsular polysaccharides, and may be potential targets for therapeutic intervention.