title: Bacillus anthracis cell envelope components.
abstract: Bacillus anthracis is a Gram-positive bacterium harboring a complex parietal architecture. The cytoplasmic membrane is surrounded by a thick peptidoglycan of the A1 gamma type. Only one associated polymer, a polysaccharide composed of galactose, N-acetylglucosamine, and N-acetylmannosamine, is covalently linked to the peptidoglycan. Outside the cell wall is an S-layer. Two proteins can each compose the S-layer. They are noncovalently anchored to the cell wall polysaccharide by their SLH N-terminal domain. The poly-gamma-D-glutamate capsule, which covers the S-layer, has an antiphagocytic role and its synthesis is dependent on environmental factors mimicking the mammalian host, such as bicarbonate and a temperature of 37 degrees C.
authors.affiliation: Toxines et Pathogénie Bactériennes (URA 2172, CNRS), Institut Pasteur, 28 rue du Dr Roux, 75724, Paris, France. afouet@pasteur.fr
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fouet
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mesnage
mesh_terms: D000117:Acetylglucosamine; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016667:Bacterial Capsules / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005690:Galactose; D006595:Hexosamines; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010457:Peptidoglycan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010587:Phagocytosis
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D006595:Hexosamines; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D010457:Peptidoglycan; C055764:S-layer proteins; D000117:Acetylglucosamine; D005690:Galactose; C002022:N-acetylmannosamine