Glycosyl transferases of O-antigen biosynthesis in Salmonella enterica: identification and characterization of transferase genes of groups B, C2, and E1.

In Salmonella enterica, there is a great variety of O antigens, each consisting of a short oligosaccharide (the repeating unit) repeated many times. The O antigens differ in their sugar composition and glycosidic linkages. The genetic determinants of the O antigen are located in an rfb gene cluster, and some, including those of S. enterica O serogroups B, C2, and E1, have been cloned and sequenced. In this study of the glycosyltransferases which form the glycosidic linkages, we identify and characterize the four mannosyl and three rhamnosyl transferase genes of the three rfb gene clusters.