Generation of a novel polysaccharide by inactivation of the aceP gene from the acetan biosynthetic pathway in Acetobacter xylinum

The acetan biosynthetic pathway in Acetobacter xylinum is an ideal model system for engineering novel bacterial polysaccharides. To genetically manipulate this pathway, an Acetobacter strain (CKE5), more susceptible to gene-transfer methodologies, was developed. A new gene, aceP, involved in acetan biosynthesis was identified, sequenced and shown to have homology at the amino acid level with β-D-glucosyl transferases from a number of different organisms. Disruption of aceP in strain CKE confirmed the function assigned above and was used to engineer a novel polysaccharide with a pentasaccharide repeat unit.