Generation of a novel polysaccharide by inactivation of the aceP gene fromthe acetan biosynthetic pathway in Acetobacter xylinum

The acetan biosynthetic pathway in Acetobacter xylinum is an ideal model sy stem for engineering novel bacterial polysaccharides. To genetically manipu late this pathway, an Acetobacter strain (CKE5), more susceptible to gene-t ransfer methodologies, was developed. A new gene, aceP, involved in acetan biosynthesis was identified, sequenced and shown to have homology at the am ino acid level with beta-D-glucosyl transferases from a number of different organisms. Disruption of aceP in strain CKE5 confirmed the function assign ed above and was used to engineer a novel polysaccharide with a pentasaccha ride repeat unit.