Fig. 1

a) Schematic representation of the GPLs structure from M. smegmatis and its biosynthetic locus on the chromosome. The genes involved in the synthesis of lipid moiety (orange), peptide (green) and glycosylation (red) of GPLs are indicated. b) Agarose gel electrophoresis showing PCR-based validation of the msmeg_0412 gene deletion in the GM1 strain. Lanes: 1) DNA Ladder marker (1Kb); 2) PCR negative control; 3) wt Chromosomal DNA used as template (2527 bp-amplicon expected using 0412-F1 and 0412-R2 as primers); 4) GM1 Chromosomal DNA used as template (1438 bp-amplicon expected using 0412-F1 and 0412-R2 as primers)