Lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis: which steps do bacteria need to survive?

A detailed knowledge of LPS biosynthesis is of the utmost importance in und erstanding the function of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. Th e regulation of LPS biosynthesis affects many more compartments of the bact erial cell than the outer membrane and thus contributes to the understandin g of the physiology of Gram-negative bacteria in general, on the basis of w hich only mechanisms of virulence and antibiotic resistance can be studied to find new targets for antibacterial treatment. The study of LPS biosynthe sis is also an excellent example to demonstrate the limitations of 'genomic s' and 'proteomics', since secondary gene products can be studied only by t he combined tools of molecular genetics, enzymology and analytical structur al biochemistry. Thus, the door to the field of 'glycomics' is opened.