Biosynthesis and function of novel modified heptoses present in bacterial surface polysaccharides

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Some bacteria cover their surface with long chains of sugars that affect their interactions with host cells and their ability to survive to adverse growth conditions encountered in the environment or during the colonization of a new host. These sugars can sometimes be very unusual. Their exact function and the mechanism whereby they affect interactions with host cells are not known. To better understand their function, it is necessary to identify the genes that are necessary for their synthesis, as well as to characterize the enzymes that are encoded by the genes. We are focusing on unusual heptoses that are found on the surface of several bacteria (Yersiniae, Campylobacters) and have made great progress in elucidating their biosynthesis and function using Yersiniae as a model system. We propose to pursue our studies using Campylobacters as the unusual heptoses are part of a different type of surface macromolecule in Campylobacters. The fundamental knowledge gathered in our studies will help us understand how a specific sugar can affect the function of a macromolecule, a question that is at the heart of the field of glycobiology and that applies not only to bacteria but also to plants and animals. We also plan to perform extensive structure/function studies of the enzymes that we have identified as this will provide novel tools to engineer novel sugar derivatives that could have technological applications