Figure 5: Schematic diagram of sanxan biosynthesis, modified according to Fialho et al.10.

The first step is the synthesis of nucleotide sugar precursors from glucose. The second step is the assembly of the tetrasaccharide repeat unit by the sequential activity of SsB, SsQ, SsH, and SsT glycosyltransferases, and SsX, SsY, SsZ, and SsI acyltransferases. The third step, comprising polymerization and export of the final product, is accomplished by SsS, SsG, SsC, and SsD.