What question did this study set out to answer?

Identify the gene encoding bacterial undecaprenyl pyrophosphate synthetase and characterize its enzymatic function and essentiality for bacterial growth.

January 15, 1999Journal of BacteriologyOpen Access

Use of Genomics To Identify Bacterial Undecaprenyl Pyrophosphate Synthetase: Cloning, Expression, and Characterization of the Essential uppS Gene

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Identify the gene encoding bacterial undecaprenyl pyrophosphate synthetase and characterize its enzymatic function and essentiality for bacterial growth.
Purified native Upp synthetase from Escherichia coli soluble extracts using multistep chromatography, photolabile substrate analogue labeling, and MALDI mass spectrometry.
Cloned and expressed His-tagged and untagged uppS orthologs from E. coli, Haemophilus influenzae, and Streptococcus pneumoniae to measure enzymatic activity and cofactor requirements.
Evaluated the essentiality of the uppS gene in Streptococcus pneumoniae R6 using a regulatable gene disruption system.
Matched the purified 29-kDa E. coli enzyme to unassigned protein YAES_ECOLI (Q47675), identifying homologous uppS sequences across 25 bacterial species, yeast, and nematodes.
Demonstrated robust Upp synthetase catalytic activity across recombinant tagged and untagged enzymes, with all enzymes showing strict dependence on Triton X-100 and MgCl2.
Confirmed that the uppS gene is strictly essential for cell viability and growth in S. pneumoniae R6.

Discussion

No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.

Implication

Biochemical and genetic analysis uncovers undecaprenyl pyrophosphate synthetase function encoded by uppS across bacteria, indicating its essentiality for bacterial survival.

Cite This Study

Apfel et al. (1999) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a8403f72327ba91ab8d68f2 https://doi.org/10.1128/jb.181.2.483-492.1999

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Implication

Biochemical and genetic analysis uncovers undecaprenyl pyrophosphate synthetase function encoded by uppS across bacteria, indicating its essentiality for bacterial survival.

Use of Genomics To Identify Bacterial Undecaprenyl Pyrophosphate Synthetase: Cloning, Expression, and Characterization of the Essential uppS Gene

Key Points

Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

Use of Genomics To Identify Bacterial Undecaprenyl Pyrophosphate Synthetase: Cloning, Expression, and Characterization of the Essential uppS Gene

Key Points

Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

Also Consider

Also Consider