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Glycomicrobiology pp 275–297Cite as

Biosynthesis and Regulation of Expression of Group 1 Capsules in Escherichia coli and Related Extracellular Polysaccharides in Other Bacteria

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ConclusionS

Significant inroads have been made into understanding the synthesis and genetics of bacterial capsules at a descriptive level. In particular, rapid sequencing techniques and more recently genome projects have had (and will continue to have) a dramatic impact. Many of the steps in capsule synthesis are not known, primarily from mutant phenotypes. Biochemical analyses have been initiated for some enzymes, but an understanding of the enzyme mechanisms underlying most of these reactions is still elusive. As should be evident from the discussion here, there are common strategies used for assembly of capsules in bacteria with different physiologies and ecological niches. Resolution of the details of biosynthesis for one capsule synthesis system should rapidly lead to an understanding of related systems. At a regulatory level, we again have an understanding of the components involved. The next challenge is to establish the operation of these regulatory systems during growth in vivo.

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  1. Department of Microbiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G2W1, Canada

    Chris Whitfield, Jolyne Drummelsmith, Andrea Rahn & Thomas Wugeditsch

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  1. Chris Whitfield
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  1. University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky

    Ron J. Doyle

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Whitfield, C., Drummelsmith, J., Rahn, A., Wugeditsch, T. (2002). Biosynthesis and Regulation of Expression of Group 1 Capsules in Escherichia coli and Related Extracellular Polysaccharides in Other Bacteria. In: Doyle, R.J. (eds) Glycomicrobiology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-46821-2_9

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