Bacterial Glycobiology: Rhamnose-Containing Cell Wall Polysaccharides in Gram-Positive Bacteria
Open accessAbstract
The composition of the Gram-positive cell wall is typically described as containing peptidoglycan, proteins and essential secondary cell wall structures called teichoic acids, which comprise approximately half of the cell wall mass. The cell walls of many species within the genera Streptococcus, Enterococcus and Lactococcus contain large amounts of the sugar rhamnose, which is incorporated in cell wall-anchored polysaccharides (CWP) that possibly function as homologues of well-studied wall teichoic acids (WTA). The presence and chemical structure of many rhamnose-containing cell wall polysaccharides (RhaCWP) has sometimes been known for decades. In contrast to WTA, insight into the biosynthesis and functional role of RhaCWP has been lacking. Recent studies in human streptococcal and enterococcal pathogens have highlighted critical roles for these complex polysaccharides in bacterial cell wall architecture and pathogenesis. In this review, we provide an overview of the RhaCWP with regards to their biosynthesis, genetics and biological function in species most relevant to human health. We also briefly discuss how increased knowledge in this field can provide interesting leads for new therapeutic compounds and improve biotechnological applications.
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CW-PS contain rhamnose and have multiple functions; in S. thermophilus they are involved in antibiotic stress response, while in Lact. lactis they act as phage receptors.
“These molecules contain rhamnose and have multiple functions. In S. thermophilus, they are involved in antibiotic stress response, while in Lact. Lactis, they act as phage receptors [21,22,23].”
From Lactic Acid Bacteria Exopolysaccharides Producers: A Sustainable Tool for Functional Foods (2021) · cites this paper as [21]
The ‘RhaCWP as phage receptors’ section (page unavailable) supports the Lactococcus lactis claim: it says RhaCWP structure dictates bacteriophage sensitivity and discusses phage adsorption in that species. The paper also describes rhamnose-containing cell-wall polysaccharides and their multiple roles. It does not establish an antibiotic stress-response role in S. thermophilus; the antibiotic discussion concerns other bacteria or a proposed synergy. (LLM, conf=0.87)
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References 168 · Cited by 215
- Authors
- Mistou, M.-Y., Sutcliffe, I. C., & van Sorge, N. M.
- Affiliations
- Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire de l’Alimentation, de l’Environnement et du Travail (FR)
- Northumbria University (GB)
- Venue
- FEMS Microbiology Reviews
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2016-03-13
- Volume
- 40
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 464-479
- ISSN
- 0168-6445 (ISSN-L)
- 1574-6976
- PMC
- PMC4931226
- OpenAlex
- W2299259157
- Cited by
- 215
- References
- 168
- Citations by year
- 2026: 20 · 2025: 25 · 2024: 29 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 6
- FWCI
- 2.14
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by
- Locations
- FEMS Microbiology Reviews (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Northumbria Research Link (Northumbria University) (acceptedVersion)
- Utrecht University Repository (Utrecht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Streptococcal Infections and Treatments
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Biochemical and Structural Characterization
- Keywords
- Gram-positive bacteria, wall teichoic acid, rhamnose biosynthesis, Streptococcus, Enterococcus, Lactococcus, bacterial pathogenesis, cell wall architecture, therapeutic target, biotechnology applications
- MeSH terms
- Cell Wall, Gram-Positive Bacteria, Humans, Polysaccharides, Bacterial, Rhamnose, Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections
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