title: Identification and characterization of pbpA encoding Bacillus subtilis penicillin-binding protein 2A.
abstract: Amino acid sequence analysis of tryptic peptides derived from purified penicillin-binding protein PBP2a of Bacillus subtilis identified the coding gene (now termed pbpA) as yqgF, which had been sequenced as part of the B. subtilis genome project; pbpA encodes a 716-residue protein with sequence similarity to class B high-molecular-weight PBPs. Use of a pbpA-lacZ fusion showed that pbpA was expressed predominantly during vegetative growth, and the transcription start site was mapped using primer extension analysis. Insertional mutagenesis of pbpA resulted in no changes in the growth rate or morphology of vegetative cells, in the ability to produce heat-resistant spores, or in the ability to trigger spore germination when compared to the wild type. However, pbpA spores were unable to efficiently elongate into cylindrical cells and were delayed significantly in spore outgrowth. This provides evidence that PBP2a is involved in the synthesis of peptidoglycan associated with cell wall elongation in B. subtilis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington 06030, USA.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Popham
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Setlow
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001483:Base Sequence; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006602:Hexosyltransferases; D007700:Kinetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D002267:Muramoylpentapeptide Carboxypeptidase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D010406:Penicillins / Q000378:metabolism; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010449:Peptide Mapping; D010458:Peptidyl Transferases; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013171:Spores, Bacterial; D014357:Trypsin
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D010406:Penicillins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D010458:Peptidyl Transferases; D006602:Hexosyltransferases; D002267:Muramoylpentapeptide Carboxypeptidase; D014357:Trypsin