Chlamydia trachomatis has penicillin-binding proteins but not detectable muramic acid.
Chlamydia trachomatis LGV-434 was grown in HeLa 229 cells. Benzylpenicillin completely inhibited the formation of infectious elementary bodies (EBs) at a concentration of 19 pmol/ml or higher and produced abnormally large reticulate bodies (RBs) in the inclusions at 30 pmol/ml or higher. The possible targets for penicillin in C. trachomatis were three penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) which were identified in the Sarkosyl-soluble fractions of both RBs and EBs. The apparent subunit molecular weights were 88,000 (PBP 1), 61,000 (BPB 2), and 36,000 (PBP 3). The 50% binding concentrations of [3H]penicillin for PBPs 1 to 3 in EBs and RBs were between 7 and 70 pmol/ml. Such high susceptibility to penicillin was shown by an organism that did not have detectable muramic acid (less than 0.02% by weight) in preparations of either whole cells or sodium dodecyl sulfate-insoluble residues.
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001681:Biological Assay; D001692:Biological Transport; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D002689:Chlamydia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006367:HeLa Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D006602:Hexosyltransferases; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009112:Muramic Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D002267:Muramoylpentapeptide Carboxypeptidase; D010400:Penicillin G / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D010406:Penicillins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010458:Peptidyl Transferases; D013400:Sugar Acids / Q000032:analysis*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D009112:Muramic Acids; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D010406:Penicillins; D013400:Sugar Acids; D010458:Peptidyl Transferases; D006602:Hexosyltransferases; D002267:Muramoylpentapeptide Carboxypeptidase; D010400:Penicillin G