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Abstract:
In bacteria, cell-surface polysaccharides fulfill important
physiological functions, including interactions with the environment and
other cells as well as protection from diverse stresses. The
Gram-negative delta-proteobacterium Myxococcus xanthus is a model to
study social behaviors in bacteria. M. xanthus synthesizes four
cell-surface polysaccharides, i.e., exopolysaccharide (EPS),
biosurfactant polysaccharide (BPS), spore coat polysaccharide, and
O-antigen. Here, we describe recent progress in elucidating the three
Wzx/Wzy-dependent pathways for EPS, BPS and spore coat polysaccharide
biosynthesis and the ABC transporter-dependent pathway for O-antigen
biosynthesis. Moreover, we describe the functions of these four
cell-surface polysaccharides in the social life cycle of M. xanthus.
