The gate controlling cell wall synthesis in Staphylococcus aureus

• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2004.04200.x
• Publication Date: 2004-08-05T16:02:41Z
• Authors: Hitoshi Komatsuzawa; Tamaki Fujiwara; Hiromi Nishi; Sakuo Yamada; Masaru Ohara; Nadine McCallum; Brigitte Berger‐B...; Motoyuki Sugai
• Keywords: N-Acetylglucosamine; Acetylglucosamine; Amino sugar; Hexokinase

Summary Glucosamine‐6‐P occupies a central position between cell wall synthesis and glycolysis. In the initial steps leading to peptidoglycan precursor formation glucosamine‐6‐P is processed sequentially UDP‐ N ‐acetylglucosamine, while enter glycolysis pathway, isomerized by NagB fructose‐6‐P. Although we could not demonstrate activity, nagB inactivation significantly reduced growth. Mutational analysis showed that NagA was involved in from ‐acetylglucosamine‐6‐P, GlmS Inactivation of glmS prevented growth on glucose as sole carbon source, which resumed after complementation with ‐acetylglucosamine. Transcription well amount presence This preferential incorporation ‐acetylglucosamine over into material used exclusively for synthesis, served both These observations suggest furthermore be key only enzyme Staphylococcus aureus, show there exists tight regulation hierarchy sugar utilization. nagA , or affected susceptibility S. aureus inhibitors, suggesting an interdependence efficiency resistance levels.