Structural studies of the O-antigen polysaccharide from Escherichia coli TD2158 having O18 serogroup specificity and aspects of its interaction with the tailspike endoglycosidase of the infecting bacteriophage HK620

We have analyzed the O-antigen polysaccharide of the previously uncharacterized Escherichia coli strain TD2158 which is a host of bacteriophage HK620. This bacteriophage recognizes and cleaves the polysaccharide with its tailspike protein (TSP). The polysaccharide preparation as well as oligosaccharides obtained from HK620TSP endoglycosidase digests were analyzed with NMR spectroscopy. Additionally, sugar analysis was performed on the O-antigen polysaccharide and MALDI-TOF MS was used in oligosaccharide analysis. The present study revealed a heterogeneous polysaccharide with a hexasaccharide repeating unit of the following structure:Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideA repeating unit with a d-GlcNAc substitution of d-Gal has been described earlier as characteristic for serogroup O18A1. Accordingly, we termed repeating units with d-Glc substitution at d-Gal as O18A2. NMR analyses of the polysaccharide confirmed that O18A1- and O18A2-type repeats were present in a 1:1 ratio. However, HK620TSP preferentially bound the d-GlcNAc-substituted O18A1-type repeating units in its high affinity binding pocket with a dissociation constant of 140 μM and disfavored the O18A2-type having a β-d-Glcp-(1→3)-linked group. As a result, in hexasaccharide preparations, O18A1 and O18A2 repeats were present in a 9:1 ratio stressing the clear preference of O18A1-type repeats to be cleaved by HK620TSP.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► The O-antigen polysaccharide is heterogeneous with different sugar groups in one of the sidechains. ► The tailspike protein of bacteriophage HK620 preferentially hydrolyzes one kind of repeating units. ► The endoglycosidase activity is governed by specific interactions toward the O-antigen.