Information on EC 2.4.99.26 - O-antigen ligase

This Gram-negative bacterial enzyme attaches the polymerized O antigen molecule to the outer core region of the lipid A-core oligosaccharide, finalizing the biosynthesis of the lipopolysaccharide. Prior to the reaction the two substrates are attached to the periplasmic-facing side of the inner membrane, and the enzyme transfers the O-antigen from its polyprenyl diphosphate membrane anchor (usually ditrans,octacis-undecaprenyl diphosphate) to a terminal sugar of the lipid A-core oligosaccharide. Despite the popular name "ligase", the enzyme is not a real ligase, as the reaction does not involve the hydrolysis of a phosphate bond in a triphosphate. The enzyme is embedded in the inner membrane and often has 12 trans-membrane segments. It is a metal-independent inverting glycosyltransferase, and in some cases it can attach surface polymers other than O-antigens to the lipid A-core oligosaccharide.