A central role for PBP2 in the activation of peptidoglycan polymerization by the bacterial cell elongation machinery.

ABSTRACT: Cell elongation in rod-shaped bacteria is mediated by the Rod system, a conserved morphogenic complex that spatially controls cell wall assembly by the glycan polymerase RodA and crosslinking enzyme PBP2. Using Escherichia coli as a model system, we identified a PBP2 variant that promotes Rod system function when essential accessory components of the machinery are inactivated. This PBP2 variant hyperactivates cell wall synthesis in vivo and stimulates the activity of RodA-PBP2 complexes in vitro. Cells with the activated synthase also exhibited enhanced polymerization of the actin-like MreB component of the Rod system. Our results define an activation pathway governing Rod system function in which PBP2 conformation plays a central role in stimulating both glycan polymerization by its partn

SUBMITTER: Rohs PDA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6207328 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature