Identification and functional characterization of an ABC transport system involved in polysaccharide export of A-band lipopolysaccharide in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa coexpresses two distinct lipopolysaccharide (LPS) molecules known as A band and B band. B band is the serospecific LPS, while A band is the common LPS antigen composed of a D-rhamnose O-polysaccharide region. An operon containing eight genes responsible for A-band polysaccharide biosynthesis and export has recently been identified and characterized (H. L. Rocchetta, L. L. Burrows, J. C. Pacan, and J. S. Lam, unpublished data; H. L. Rocchetta, J. C. Pacan, and J. S. Lam, unpublished data). In this study, we report the characterization of two genes within the cluster, designated wzm and wzt. The Wzm and Wzt proteins have predicted sizes of 29.5 and 47.2 kDa, respectively, and are homologous to a number of proteins that comprise ABC (ATP-binding cassette) transport systems. Wzm is an integral membrane protein with six potential membrane-spanning domains, while Wzt is an ATP-binding protein containing a highly conserved ATP-binding motif. Chromosomal wzm and wzt mutants were generated by using a gene replacement strategy in P. aeruginosa PAO1 (serotype O5). Western blot analysis and immunoelectron microscopy using A-band- and B band-specific monoclonal antibodies demonstrated that the wzm and wzt mutants were able to synthesize A-band polysaccharide, although transport of the polymer to the cell surface was inhibited. The inability of the polymer to cross the inner membrane resulted in the accumulation of cytoplasmic A-band polysaccharide. This A-band polysaccharide is likely linked to a carrier lipid molecule with a phenol-labile linkage. Chromosomal mutations in wzm and wzt were found to have no effect on B-band LPS synthesis. Rather, immunoelectron microscopy revealed that the presence of A-band LPS may influence the arrangement of B-band LPS on the cell surface. These results demonstrate that A-band and B-band O-antigen assembly processes follow two distinct pathways, with the former requiring an ABC transport system for cell surface expression.