Overview of Aga Genes and their Role in Utilization of N-Acetyl-D-Galactosamine and D-Galactosamine by Bacteria

Bacteria use a variety of mechanisms in order to successfully survive in hosts. To support proliferation sophisticated means of maintenance in host especially metabolism of carbon and nitrogen is needed. One metabolic mechanism is the metabolism of amino sugars which are being used simultaneously as...

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Main Authors: Petruńko Leon, Gmiter Dawid
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sciendo 2025-07-01
Series:Postępy Mikrobiologii
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.2478/am-2025-0008
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author Petruńko Leon
Gmiter Dawid
author_facet Petruńko Leon
Gmiter Dawid
author_sort Petruńko Leon
collection DOAJ
description Bacteria use a variety of mechanisms in order to successfully survive in hosts. To support proliferation sophisticated means of maintenance in host especially metabolism of carbon and nitrogen is needed. One metabolic mechanism is the metabolism of amino sugars which are being used simultaneously as a carbon and nitrogen source. D-galactosamine (GalN) and N-acetyl-D-galactosamine (Gal-NAc) and their derivatives are widely used by bacteria. For instance, they build parts of cell wall and LPS. The metabolism of both amino sugars is performed and controlled by proteins encoded by aga genes, present in a wide variety of Proteobacteria. The genetic mechanism underlying this metabolic pathway is, however not yet fully known. Despite this, there is a possibility of using this pathway as a target for therapy, especially in the times of ever-growing danger of bacterial drug resistance. The goal of this article was to present the current knowledge of aga genes and their importance in GalN and GalNAc metabolism.
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series Postępy Mikrobiologii
spelling doaj-art-8d1e02a46eba4ae1b38ec0c2c1cecf272025-08-20T03:42:55ZengSciendoPostępy Mikrobiologii2545-31492025-07-01642869410.2478/am-2025-0008Overview of Aga Genes and their Role in Utilization of N-Acetyl-D-Galactosamine and D-Galactosamine by BacteriaPetruńko Leon0Gmiter Dawid1Jan Kochanowski University of Kielce, Faculty of Natural Science, Institute of Biology, Uniwersytecka 7, 25-406Kielce, PolandUniversity of Warsaw, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Microbiology, I. Miecznikowa 1, 02-096Warszawa.Bacteria use a variety of mechanisms in order to successfully survive in hosts. To support proliferation sophisticated means of maintenance in host especially metabolism of carbon and nitrogen is needed. One metabolic mechanism is the metabolism of amino sugars which are being used simultaneously as a carbon and nitrogen source. D-galactosamine (GalN) and N-acetyl-D-galactosamine (Gal-NAc) and their derivatives are widely used by bacteria. For instance, they build parts of cell wall and LPS. The metabolism of both amino sugars is performed and controlled by proteins encoded by aga genes, present in a wide variety of Proteobacteria. The genetic mechanism underlying this metabolic pathway is, however not yet fully known. Despite this, there is a possibility of using this pathway as a target for therapy, especially in the times of ever-growing danger of bacterial drug resistance. The goal of this article was to present the current knowledge of aga genes and their importance in GalN and GalNAc metabolism.https://doi.org/10.2478/am-2025-0008aga genesamino sugarsantibacterial therapymetabolism regulationsugar metabolism
spellingShingle Petruńko Leon
Gmiter Dawid
Overview of Aga Genes and their Role in Utilization of N-Acetyl-D-Galactosamine and D-Galactosamine by Bacteria
Postępy Mikrobiologii
aga genes
amino sugars
antibacterial therapy
metabolism regulation
sugar metabolism
title Overview of Aga Genes and their Role in Utilization of N-Acetyl-D-Galactosamine and D-Galactosamine by Bacteria
title_full Overview of Aga Genes and their Role in Utilization of N-Acetyl-D-Galactosamine and D-Galactosamine by Bacteria
title_fullStr Overview of Aga Genes and their Role in Utilization of N-Acetyl-D-Galactosamine and D-Galactosamine by Bacteria
title_full_unstemmed Overview of Aga Genes and their Role in Utilization of N-Acetyl-D-Galactosamine and D-Galactosamine by Bacteria
title_short Overview of Aga Genes and their Role in Utilization of N-Acetyl-D-Galactosamine and D-Galactosamine by Bacteria
title_sort overview of aga genes and their role in utilization of n acetyl d galactosamine and d galactosamine by bacteria
topic aga genes
amino sugars
antibacterial therapy
metabolism regulation
sugar metabolism
url https://doi.org/10.2478/am-2025-0008
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