Biomaterial Database

Defect in biosynthesis of the linkage unit between peptidoglycan and teichoic acid in a bacteriophage-resistant mutant of Staphylococcus aureus. 1978

R Bracha, and R Davidson, and D Mirelman

The biosynthesis of the linkage region between peptidoglycan and the ribitol teichoic acid was investigated in the bacteriophage-resistant, teichoic acid-less mutant Staphylococcus aureus 52A5 (Chatterjee et al., J. Bacteriol. 100:846--853, 1969). Membrane preparations of this strain were found to be incapable of forming the first intermediate of the biosynthetic pathway, namely, the transfer of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc) from UDP-GlcNAc to the acceptor molecule, which presumbably is undecaprenol phosphate (R. Bracha and L. Glaser, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 72:1091--1098, 1976). The addition of heat-inactivated membrane preparations of S. aureus 52A2 (which normally has ribitol teichoic acid) that had been preincubated with UDP-GlcNAc to membranes of strain 52A5 enabled the synthesis of teichoic acid. These data suggest that the mutational defect in the teichoic acid-less organism is in the synthesis of the first compound of the linkage unit, and this is apparently the reason for its absence in the cell walls.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009154	Mutation	Any detectable and heritable change in the genetic material that causes a change in the GENOTYPE and which is transmitted to daughter cells and to succeeding generations.	Mutations
D010457	Peptidoglycan	A structural polymer of the bacterial cell envelope consisting of sugars and amino acids which is responsible for both shape determination and cellular integrity under osmotic stress in virtually all bacteria.	Murein,Pseudomurein
D002473	Cell Wall	The outermost layer of a cell in most PLANTS; BACTERIA; FUNGI; and ALGAE. The cell wall is usually a rigid structure that lies external to the CELL MEMBRANE, and provides a protective barrier against physical or chemical agents.	Cell Walls,Wall, Cell,Walls, Cell
D005990	Glycerol	A trihydroxy sugar alcohol that is an intermediate in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. It is used as a solvent, emollient, pharmaceutical agent, or sweetening agent.	1,2,3-Propanetriol,Glycerin,1,2,3-Trihydroxypropane,Glycerine
D012255	Ribitol	A sugar alcohol formed by the reduction of ribose.	Adonitol
D013204	Staphylococcus Phages	Viruses whose host is Staphylococcus.	Staphylococcal Phages,Staphylococcal Bacteriophage,Staphylococcal Bacteriophages,Staphylococcus Phage,Bacteriophage, Staphylococcal,Bacteriophages, Staphylococcal,Phage, Staphylococcal,Phage, Staphylococcus,Phages, Staphylococcal,Phages, Staphylococcus,Staphylococcal Phage
D013211	Staphylococcus aureus	Potentially pathogenic bacteria found in nasal membranes, skin, hair follicles, and perineum of warm-blooded animals. They may cause a wide range of infections and intoxications.
D013403	Sugar Phosphates		Phosphates, Sugar
D013682	Teichoic Acids	Bacterial polysaccharides that are rich in phosphodiester linkages. They are the major components of the cell walls and membranes of many bacteria.	Glycerol Teichoic Acid,Glycerol Teichoic Acids,Acid, Glycerol Teichoic,Acids, Glycerol Teichoic,Acids, Teichoic