Staphylococcus aureus counters organic acid anion-mediated inhibition of peptidoglycan cross-linking through robust alanine racemase activity.

ABSTRACT: Weak organic acids are commonly found in host niches colonized by bacteria, and they can inhibit bacterial growth as the environment becomes acidic. This inhibition is often attributed to the toxicity resulting from the accumulation of high concentrations of organic anions in the cytosol, which disrupts cellular homeostasis. However, the precise cellular targets that organic anions poison and the mechanisms used to counter organic anion intoxication in bacteria have not been elucidated. Here, we utilize acetic acid, a weak organic acid abundantly found in the gut to investigate its impact on the growth of Staphylococcus aureus. We demonstrate that acetate anions bind to and inhibit d-alanyl-d-alanine ligase (Ddl) activity in S. aureus. Ddl inhibition reduces intracellular d-a

SUBMITTER: Panda S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10827132 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature