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Structure-Function Analysis Of Enzymes Of The Polyisoprenyl-Phosphate Hexose-1-Phosphate Transferase Family, Kinnari B. Patel

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Enzymes of the polyisoprenyl-phosphate hexose-1-phosphate transferase (PHPT) family are integral membrane proteins that initiate the synthesis of glycans by catalyzing the transfer of a hexose-1-phosphate sugar from UDP-hexose to the lipid carrier undecaprenyl phosphate (Und-P). These glycans such as O antigen and exopolysaccharide (EPS) provide bacteria with protection and adaptation to the environment and host immune factors. The role of PHPT proteins in initiation and the absence of any eukaryotic homologues make them an attractive target for novel antimicrobials; however study of these proteins is difficult due to the presence of multiple transmembrane helices. A requirement of the C-terminal domain …