Sugary coats: Diverse mechanisms of complex carbohydrate secretion

Stanford Bio-X Frontiers in Interdisciplinary Biosciences Seminar
JOCHEN ZIMMER, UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA

The Zimmer lab is interested in the structure & assembly of cell surface polymers that form cell walls. Many organisms form surface structures as protective barriers, to mediate cellular interactions, and to confer mechanical strength.

Abstract:
All living systems produce complex carbohydrates as an energy source, protective coat, or adhesive for cell attachment. Polysaccharides displayed on the cell surface are secreted by diverse mechanisms that either directly couple polymer synthesis to export or involve dedicated transporters capable of moving high molecular weight polymers across the plasma membrane. Microbial cellulose biosynthesis and the ABC transporter-mediated secretion of O-antigens exemplify two fundamentally different translocation mechanisms. Both pathways contribute to the formation of protective coats frequently produced by microbial pathogens to reduce the efficacy of their hosts’ innate immune responses. Using structural and functional analyses, we obtained detailed insights into diverse polysaccharide translocation mechanisms.

February 14th, 2019 at 4:00 PM in Clark Center Seminar Room S360

Hosted by:

Lynette Cegelski, Associate Professor of Chemistry, Stanford University

Pre-Seminar February 12th, 2018 at 4:00 PM in Clark S361