Biochemical investigation of an N-acetyltransferase from Helicobacter pullorum.

N-acetylated sugars are often found, for example, on the lipopolysaccharides of Gram-negative bacteria, on the S-layers of Gram-positive bacteria, and on the capsular polysaccharides. Key enzymes involved in their biosynthesis are the sugar N-acetyltransferases. Here, we describe a structural and functional analysis of one such enzyme from Helicobacter pullorum, an emerging pathogen that may be associated with gastroenteritis and gallbladder and liver diseases.

Structural Analysis of Cj1427, an Essential NAD-Dependent Dehydrogenase for the Biosynthesis of the Heptose Residues in the Capsular Polysaccharides of .

Many strains of display modified heptose residues in their capsular polysaccharides (CPS). The precursor heptose was previously shown to be GDP-d--α-d--heptose, from which a variety of modifications of the sugar moiety have been observed. These modifications include the generation of 6-deoxy derivatives and alterations of the stereochemistry at C3-C6.