Skip to content
DraconiticResearch
Search Sources API
181,713 studies31 sourcesUpdated 50 min ago
Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Molecular Microbiology

A Mobile Glycosylation Locus Modulates Cell Wall Architecture in Lactobacillus crispatus

  • P. Achterberg1,2
  • M. Lekkerkerker1,3
  • L. Koelemeijer1
  • S. Illidge1
  • J. Vroom4
  • R. Y. Hertzberger1
  • J. Vreede3
  • M. C. M. van Loosdrecht2
  • R. Kort1,5
5 affiliations
  1. 1Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment (A‐LIFE) Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Amsterdam the Netherlands
  2. 2Department of Biotechnology Delft University of Technology Delft the Netherlands
  3. 3Van't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences University of Amsterdam Amsterdam the Netherlands
  4. 4Wageningen Electron Microscopy Centre Wageningen University & Research Wageningen the Netherlands
  5. 5ARTIS‐Micropia Amsterdam the Netherlands
Read full textPDFDOICite

Abstract

Lactobacillus crispatus dominance in the vaginal microbiome is associated with beneficial health outcomes, yet strain‐level variation and its implications remain poorly understood. Here, we resolve the genomic context of three glycosyltransferase gene fragments (GT1‐3) previously linked with dysbiotic states. Long‐read resequencing revealed that GT1‐3 are part of a ~18.7 kb Wzx/Wzy‐dependent cell wall polysaccharide (CWPS) locus, containing several IS256‐family transposases. Serial propagation in vitro produced isolates with 4.1 kb excised via a composite transposon encompassing the GT3, UDP‐galactopyranose mutase, flippase, and hypothetical protein, demonstrating structural plasticity. Transmission electron microscopy showed a ~20%–25% thinner peptidoglycan layer in the derived strains, while FT‐IR and monosaccharide analysis indicated no gross changes. Molecular dynamics simulations suggest that GT3 contributes to the structural stability of the glycosyltransferase complex, without compromising catalytic function. Together, these findings establish the CWPS locus as a mobile, structurally plastic element that directly influences cell wall architecture in L. crispatus .

Related

  1. IgG coating of Lactobacillus crispatus is associated with cervicovaginal immune homeostasis and reduced preterm birth rates, identifying S-layer proteins as candidate antibody targets
    Belen Gimeno-Molina, Alexiane Decout, Ryan L. Love +15
    MicrobiomePeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0MicrobiologyCrossref
  2. An atlas of the aging glycoproteome reveals how glycosylation modulates autoantibody binding in the brain
    M. Schoof, J. Reitenbach, K. Abraham +14
    bioRxivPreprintCC BY-NC-NDFull textNeurosciencebioRxiv
  3. BcPHT1;9 mediates phosphate uptake and modulates root architecture in flowering Chinese cabbage.
    Wenjie Yang, Yanxu Xue, Ali Anwar +5
    BMC plant biologyPeer-reviewedCC BY-NC-NDFull textPlant biologyEurope PMC
  4. Genome architecture modulates 35S and 5S rDNA homogenization in Asteraceae.
    Daniel Vitales, Joan Pere Pascual-Díaz, Veronika Zoulová +2
    The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biologyPeer-reviewedCC BYFull textPlant biologyEurope PMC
  5. Nano-formulated humic acid modulates growth, antioxidant status, and intestinal architecture in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)
    Abdelalim Sharaf, Norhan E. Saleh, Fawzia S. Ali +1
    Scientific ReportsPeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Full textEcologyCrossrefDOAJ

Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{achterberg2026mobile,
  title = {{A Mobile Glycosylation Locus Modulates Cell Wall Architecture in Lactobacillus crispatus}},
  author = {P. Achterberg and M. Lekkerkerker and L. Koelemeijer and S. Illidge and J. Vroom and R. Y. Hertzberger and J. Vreede and M. C. M. van Loosdrecht and R. Kort},
  journal = {Molecular Microbiology},
  year = {2026},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.1111/mmi.70112},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/mmi.70112},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - A Mobile Glycosylation Locus Modulates Cell Wall Architecture in Lactobacillus crispatus
AU  - P. Achterberg
AU  - M. Lekkerkerker
AU  - L. Koelemeijer
AU  - S. Illidge
AU  - J. Vroom
AU  - R. Y. Hertzberger
AU  - J. Vreede
AU  - M. C. M. van Loosdrecht
AU  - R. Kort
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/10
JO  - Molecular Microbiology
DO  - 10.1111/mmi.70112
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1111/mmi.70112
AB  - Lactobacillus crispatus dominance in the vaginal microbiome is associated with beneficial health outcomes, yet strain‐level variation and its implications remain poorly understood. Here, we resolve the genomic context of three glycosyltransferase gene fragments (GT1‐3) previously linked with dysbiotic states. Long‐read resequencing revealed that GT1‐3 are part of a ~18.7 kb Wzx/Wzy‐dependent cell wall polysaccharide (CWPS) locus, containing several IS256‐family transposases. Serial propagation in vitro produced isolates with 4.1 kb excised via a composite transposon encompassing the GT3, UDP‐galactopyranose mutase, flippase, and hypothetical protein, demonstrating structural plasticity. Transmission electron microscopy showed a ~20%–25% thinner peptidoglycan layer in the derived strains, while FT‐IR and monosaccharide analysis indicated no gross changes. Molecular dynamics simulations suggest that GT3 contributes to the structural stability of the glycosyltransferase complex, without compromising catalytic function. Together, these findings establish the CWPS locus as a mobile, structurally plastic element that directly influences cell wall architecture in L. crispatus .
SN  - 0950-382X
SN  - 1365-2958
ER  -