C-di-AMP is a new second messenger in Staphylococcus aureus with a role in controlling cell size and envelope stress.

ABSTRACT: The cell wall is a vital and multi-functional part of bacterial cells. For Staphylococcus aureus, an important human bacterial pathogen, surface proteins and cell wall polymers are essential for adhesion, colonization and during the infection process. One such cell wall polymer, lipoteichoic acid (LTA), is crucial for normal bacterial growth and cell division. Upon depletion of this polymer bacteria increase in size and a misplacement of division septa and eventual cell lysis is observed. In this work, we describe the isolation and characterization of LTA-deficient S. aureus suppressor strains that regained the ability to grow almost normally in the absence of this cell wall polymer. Using a whole genome sequencing approach, compensatory mutations were identified and revealed that mutation

SUBMITTER: Corrigan RM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3164647 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature