title: Variability of peptidoglycan surface density in Escherichia coli.
abstract: Murein synthesis in Escherichia coli can be partially inhibited by D-methionine without concomitant alterations in growth and morphology. D-Methionine-treated cultures grow steadily for an indefinite time, therefore murein surface density should be reduced. Determination of this parameter in control and D-methionine-treated cells showed a severe reduction in the latter. Murein surface density increases drastically in resting cells, irrespective of the presence of D-methionine. Mutants in ponB are hypersensitive to D-methionine. Analysis of ponB strains revealed an important reduction in murein surface density. An approximately two-fold reduction in average surface density is apparently compatible with normal growth and division.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa CSIC-UAM, Facultad de Ciencias (Biología), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caparrós
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Quintela
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: de Pedro
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D003960:Diaminopimelic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006602:Hexosyltransferases / Q000235:genetics; D008715:Methionine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000235:genetics; D002267:Muramoylpentapeptide Carboxypeptidase; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D010457:Peptidoglycan / Q000032:analysis*; D010458:Peptidyl Transferases / Q000235:genetics; D013237:Stereoisomerism
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D010457:Peptidoglycan; D003960:Diaminopimelic Acid; D008715:Methionine; D010458:Peptidyl Transferases; D006602:Hexosyltransferases; D002267:Muramoylpentapeptide Carboxypeptidase