Structure and Biosynthetic Gene Cluster of Sulfated Capsular Polysaccharide from the Marine Bacterium Vibrio sp. KMM 8419

Vibrio sp. KMM 8419 (=CB1-14) is a Gram-negative bacterium isolated from a food-net mucus sample of marine polychaete Chaetopterus cautus collected in the Sea of Japan. Here, we report the structure and biosynthetic gene cluster of the capsular polysaccharide (CPS) from strain KMM 8419. The CPS was isolated and studied by one- and two-dimensional 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The molecular weight of the CPS was about 254 kDa. The CPS consisted of disaccharide repeating units of D-glucose and sulfated and acetylated L-rhamnose established as -> 2)-alpha-L-Rhap3S4Ac-(1 -> 6)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1 ->. To identify the genes responsible for CPS biosynthesis, whole-genome sequencing of KMM 8419 was carried out. Based on the genome annotations together with the Interproscan, UniProt and AntiSMASH results, a CPS-related gene cluster of 80 genes was found on chromosome 1. This cluster contained sets of genes encoding for the nucleotide sugar biosynthesis (UDP-Glc and dTDP-Rha), assembly (glycosyltransferases (GT)), transport (ABC transporter) and sulfation (PAPS biosynthesis and sulfotransferases) of the sulfated CPS. A hypothetical model for the assembly and transportation of the sulfated CPS was also proposed. In addition, this locus included genes for O-antigen biosynthesis. Further studies of biological activity, the structure-activity relationship in the new sulfated polysaccharide and its biosynthesis are necessary for the development of potent anticancer agents or drug delivery systems.