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. 1994 Dec;176(23):7372–7374. doi: 10.1128/jb.176.23.7372-7374.1994

Characterization of CMP-N-acetylneuraminic acid synthetase of group B streptococci.

R F Haft 1, M R Wessels 1
PMCID: PMC197127  PMID: 7961510

Abstract

The capsular polysaccharide is a critical virulence factor for group B streptococci associated with human infections, yet little is known about capsule biosynthesis. We detected CMP-Neu5Ac synthetase, the enzyme which activates N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac, or sialic acid) for transfer to the nascent capsular polysaccharide, in multiple group B streptococcus serotypes, all of which elaborate capsules containing Neu5Ac. CMP-Neu5Ac synthetase isolated from a high-producing type Ib strain was purified 87-fold. The enzyme had apparent Km values of 7.6 for Neu5Ac and 1.4 for CTP and a pH optimum of 8.3 to 9.4, required magnesium, and was stimulated by dithiothreitol. This is the first characterization of an enzyme involved in group B streptococcus capsular polysaccharide biosynthesis.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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