Role of the Penicillin-sensitive Transpeptidation Reaction in Attachment of Newly Synthesized Peptidoglycan to Cell Walls of Micrococcus Luteus

Overview

Journal Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Specialty Science

Date 1972 Nov 1

PMID 4343965

Citations 27

Authors

D Mirelman

R Bracha

N Sharon

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Cell-wall preparations of Micrococcus luteus (lysodeikticus) catalyze in vitro peptidoglycan synthesis from UDP N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, UDP N-acetylmuramic acid-pentapeptide, and glycine. Newly synthesized peptidoglycan is partially cross-linked by a transpeptidation reaction with concomitant release of C-terminal D-alanine. Penicillin not only strongly inhibits release of D-alanine (98% at 1 mug/ml), but also markedly inhibits incorporation of acetylglucosamine and N-acetylmuramic acid-pentapeptide into the preformed cell-wall peptidoglycan. The simplest explanation for the results is that incorporation of newly synthesized strands of peptidoglycan and their attachment to "older" cell-wall peptidoglycan proceeds mainly by transpeptidation and that transglycosylation is responsible only for part of the elongation of the pre-existing peptidoglycan. Another possibility is that incorporation occurs by transglycosylation, but it cannot continue without concurrent formation of peptide cross-bridges.

Citing Articles

Activities and regulation of peptidoglycan synthases.

Egan A, Biboy J, Vant Veer I, Breukink E, Vollmer W Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2015; 370(1679).

PMID: 26370943 PMC: 4632607. DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2015.0031.

Effect of penicillin on the in vivo formation of the D-alanyl-L-alanine peptide cross-linkage in cell walls of Micrococcus luteus.

Mirelman D, Bracha R Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1974; 5(6):663-6.

PMID: 15825422 PMC: 429031. DOI: 10.1128/AAC.5.6.663.

A continuum of anionic charge: structures and functions of D-alanyl-teichoic acids in gram-positive bacteria.

Neuhaus F, Baddiley J Microbiol Mol Biol Rev. 2003; 67(4):686-723.

PMID: 14665680 PMC: 309049. DOI: 10.1128/MMBR.67.4.686-723.2003.

Membrane-wall interrelationship in Gaffkya homari: sulfhydryl sensitivity and heat lability of nascent peptidoglycan incorporation into walls.

Neuhaus F, TOBIN C, Ahlgren J J Bacteriol. 1980; 143(1):112-9.

PMID: 7400093 PMC: 294191. DOI: 10.1128/jb.143.1.112-119.1980.

Elongation of teichuronic acid chains by a wall-membrane preparation from Micrococcus luteus.

Traxler C, Goustin A, Anderson J J Bacteriol. 1982; 150(2):649-56.

PMID: 7068531 PMC: 216412. DOI: 10.1128/jb.150.2.649-656.1982.

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