Biomaterial Database

Diverse mechanisms of polysaccharide biosynthesis, assembly and secretion across kingdoms. 2023

Zachery Stephens, and Louis F L Wilson, and Jochen Zimmer

Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA; Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, 480 Ray C. Hunt Dr., Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA.

Polysaccharides are essential biopolymers produced in all kingdoms of life. On the cell surface, they represent versatile architectural components, forming protective capsules and coats, cell walls, or adhesives. Extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) biosynthesis mechanisms differ based on the cellular localization of polymer assembly. Some polysaccharides are first synthesized in the cytosol and then extruded by ATP powered transporters [1]. In other cases, the polymers are assembled outside the cell [2], synthesized and secreted in a single step [3], or deposited on the cell surface via vesicular trafficking [4]. This review focuses on recent insights into the biosynthesis, secretion, and assembly of EPS in microbes, plants and vertebrates. We focus on comparing the sites of biosynthesis, secretion mechanisms, and higher-order EPS assemblies.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D011134	Polysaccharides	Long chain polymeric CARBOHYDRATES composed of MONOSACCHARIDES linked by glycosidic bonds.	Glycan,Glycans,Polysaccharide
D002462	Cell Membrane	The lipid- and protein-containing, selectively permeable membrane that surrounds the cytoplasm in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.	Plasma Membrane,Cytoplasmic Membrane,Cell Membranes,Cytoplasmic Membranes,Membrane, Cell,Membrane, Cytoplasmic,Membrane, Plasma,Membranes, Cell,Membranes, Cytoplasmic,Membranes, Plasma,Plasma Membranes
D002473	Cell Wall	The outermost layer of a cell in most PLANTS; BACTERIA; FUNGI; and ALGAE. The cell wall is usually a rigid structure that lies external to the CELL MEMBRANE, and provides a protective barrier against physical or chemical agents.	Cell Walls,Wall, Cell,Walls, Cell
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001692	Biological Transport	The movement of materials (including biochemical substances and drugs) through a biological system at the cellular level. The transport can be across cell membranes and epithelial layers. It also can occur within intracellular compartments and extracellular compartments.	Transport, Biological,Biologic Transport,Transport, Biologic
D050260	Carbohydrate Metabolism	Cellular processes in biosynthesis (anabolism) and degradation (catabolism) of CARBOHYDRATES.	Metabolism, Carbohydrate