The <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> esterase FmtA is essential for wall teichoic acid D-alanylation.

ABSTRACT: Staphylococcus aureus teichoic acids are anionic glycopolymers covalently attached to peptidoglycan (wall teichoic acids, WTAs) or anchored to the phospholipid membrane (lipoteichoic acids, LTAs). The post-synthetic addition of D-alanine (D-Ala) residues to these polymers modulates surface charge and contributes to pathogen survival in the host environment. Despite this importance, the underlying mechanisms controlling WTA D-alanylation remain a significant area for further investigation. Here, we demonstrate that the teichoic acid D-Ala esterase, FmtA, is essential for WTA D-alanylation. The inactivation of fmtA results in a more negative net surface charge, impacting host adhesion, biofilm formation, and cell aggregation. We found that LTA from fmtA-deficient strains

SUBMITTER: Berry KA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12505958 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature