Figure 2

Pathway for the assembly of the repeating unit of EPS I in S. meliloti based on [5, 39, 40, 48, 49, 59]. The synthesis involves three groups of proteins: a) the proteins involved in the biosynthesis of nucleotide sugar precursors (not shown); b) the sugar transferases, engaged in the transfer of precursors onto the lipid carrier (proteins shown in orange and blue); c) modifying enzymes, decorating the unit with non-sugar moieties (green); d) proteins involved in EPS assembly and export (yellow). Abbreviations used: Glc, glucose; Gal, galactose; Ac, acetate; Pyr, pyruvate; Succ, succinate.