The CWPS Rubik’s cube: Linking diversity of cell wall polysaccharide structures with the encoded biosynthetic machinery of selected Lactococcus lactis strains

Abstract

The initial interaction between members of several lactococcal phage groups (i.e., members of the 936, P335, 1358, 949, and P087 groups) and their host is mediated by a particular component of the cell wall polysaccharide (CWPS) layer that is presented on the cell surface, being termed the polysaccharide pellicle (PSP) (Chapot

Wine Phenolic Compounds Differently Affect the Host-Killing Activity of Two Lytic Bacteriophages Infecting the Lactic Acid Bacterium Oenococcus oeni

“…lactis are similar, they probably target similar structures and their complexity has been recently characterized in Lc. lactis [ 59 , 60 ]. Hence, OE33PA is likely to recognize a specific sugar moiety in the cell wall pellicle of O. oeni.…”

Cell wall polysaccharides of Gram positive ovococcoid bacteria and their role as bacteriophage receptors

“…A comprehensive review of the Rha-containing polysaccharides of Gram-positive bacteria by Mistou and colleagues highlighted the general aspects of Rha cwps biosynthesis and their physiological functions [9] . However, significant insights regarding the relationship between genomic loci, structural composition and architecture, and biosynthesis and physiological function(s) of the ovococcal Rha cwps have since been established [10] , [11] , [12] . In the current review we will focus on the genome to structure relationship of the Rha cwps of key ovococcal species – streptococci, enterococci and lactococci.…”

“…The Rha cwps of lactococci are comprised of two, distinctly synthesised saccharidic components – a highly conserved, neutral, peptidoglycan embedded di- or tri-saccharide rhamnan (Rha) and a surface-exposed decoration (previously termed the polysaccharide pellicle (PSP)) which exhibits a high degree of structural variability [10] , [12] , [70] , [71] . The observed structural flexibility of lactococcal Rha cwps is believed to be driven by a need to protect and respond to extra-cellular pressures, in particular phage predation.…”

“…The observed structural flexibility of lactococcal Rha cwps is believed to be driven by a need to protect and respond to extra-cellular pressures, in particular phage predation. As such, lactococcal Rha cwps structures appear to be in a state of constant evolution, leading to the emergence of novel features and ultimately divergent cwps groups [10] .…”

“…The leftward end of the lactococcal Rha cwps locus is highly conserved and encompasses genes encoding the enzymatic machinery for the biosynthesis of the rhamnan component including rmlA-D and rgpA-F, in addition to a lactococcal-specific gene, wpsJ . WpsJ is implicated in the transfer of the decorative element to the rhamnan core [10] , [12] . In silico characterisation of genes located in the 5′ region allowed the proposition of a model for Rha cwps biosynthesis in L. lactis .…”