LytA, Major Autolysin of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Requires Access to Nascent Peptidoglycan

• Background: The regulation of cell wall hydrolysis by the pneumococcal autolysin LytA is poorly understood. Results: The cell wall is susceptible to extracellular LytA only during the stationary phase or after cell wall synthesis inhibition. Conclusion: LytA is regulated on the substrate level, where peptidoglycan modifications likely prevent LytA hydrolysis. Significance: The control of amidases is essential for bacterial survival, cell-wall synthesis, and division.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Biokemi och molekylärbiologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Amidase

Biological approach

Cell wall synthesis

Cell walls

Choline binding domain

Exponential growth

Extracellular

Extracellular concentration

Nutrient depletion

Peptidoglycans

Potential substrate

Sensitized cells

Stationary phase

Streptococcus pneumoniae

Threshold concentrations

Virulence factors

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)