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Biosynthesis and production of polysialic acids in bacteria

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Abstract

Polysialic acids (PA) are protective capsular sialohomopolymers present in some bacteria which can invade the mammalian host and cause lethal bacteremia and meningitis. Biosynthesis and translocation of PA to the cell surface are equivalent in different species and bacterial strains which are produced. The diversity in PA structure is derived from the PA linkages and is a consequence of the specific sialyltransferase activities. The monomer acetylation and the polymer length could be important factors in the potential virulence. In vivo PA production is affected by different physical and chemical factors. The temperature of cellular growth strictly regulates PA genesis through a molecular complex and multifactorial mechanism that operate to transcription level.

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Acknowledgment

We wish to thank all the investigators who are investing time on polysialic acid in bacteria for the recent advances, some of which we are not able mention due to space restrictions. We are indebted to Prof. JM Luengo and A. Reglero for their pioneering labor in PA Spanish research. The researchers M.A.F.G and L.B.R.A are supported by grants for the Dirección General de Investigación (AGL2007-62428) and Junta de Castilla y León (JCyL 32A08).

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  1. Departamento de Biología Molecular, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana, 24071, León, Spain

    Miguel Ángel Ferrero & Leandro Rodríguez Aparicio

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  1. Miguel Ángel Ferrero
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  2. Leandro Rodríguez Aparicio
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Correspondence to Miguel Ángel Ferrero or Leandro Rodríguez Aparicio.

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Ferrero, M.Á., Aparicio, L.R. Biosynthesis and production of polysialic acids in bacteria. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 86, 1621–1635 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-010-2531-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-010-2531-5

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