Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Schulz EC
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3046976 | biostudies-literature | 2011
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Schulz Eike C EC Bergfeld Anne K AK Ficner Ralf R Mühlenhoff Martina M
PloS one 20110301 3
The major virulence factor of the neuroinvasive pathogen Escherichia coli K1 is the K1 capsule composed of α2,8-linked polysialic acid (polySia). K1 strains harboring the CUS-3 prophage modify their capsular polysaccharide by phase-variable O-acetylation, a step that is associated with increased virulence. Here we present the crystal structure of the prophage-encoded polysialate O-acetyltransferase NeuO. The homotrimeric enzyme belongs to the left-handed β-helix (LβH) family of acyltransferases ...[more]