Role of the C-terminal region of dextransucrase from Leuconostoc mesenteroides IBT-PQ in cell anchoring

dsrP, a gene that encodes a cell-associated dextransucrase produced by Leuconostoc mesenteroides IBT-PQ, was isolated, sequenced and expressed in Escherichia coli. From sequence analysis, seven repeat units in the N-terminal region were found, as well as five cell wall binding repeats in the C-terminal region. A model of the C-terminal domain of dextransucrase was built based on the solenoid structure of the cell wall binding domain already described in LytA. By experiments involving direct interactions of the enzyme with L. mesenteroides cells, as well as among the cells and the single C-terminal domain expressed in E. coli, evidence was obtained concerning the anchoring function of this region in cell-associated dextransucrase, a function which may be independent of its capacity to bind dextran.