title: D-alanyl ester depletion of teichoic acids in Lactobacillus plantarum results in a major modification of lipoteichoic acid composition and cell wall perforations at the septum mediated by the Acm2 autolysin.
abstract: The insertional inactivation of the dlt operon from Lactobacillus plantarum NCIMB8826 had a strong impact on lipoteichoic acid (LTA) composition, resulting in a major reduction in D-alanyl ester content. Unexpectedly, mutant LTA showed high levels of glucosylation and were threefold longer than wild-type LTA. The dlt mutation resulted in a reduced growth rate and increased cell lysis during the exponential and stationary growth phases. Microscopy analysis revealed increased cell length, damaged dividing cells, and perforations of the envelope in the septal region. The observed defects in the separation process, cell envelope perforation, and autolysis of the dlt mutant could be partially attributed to the L. plantarum Acm2 peptidoglycan hydrolase.
authors: Unité de Génétique, Institut des Sciences de la Vie, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium. hols@gene.ucl.ac.be
authors: Emmanuelle
authors: E
authors: Palumbo
authors: Marie
authors: M
authors: Deghorain
authors: Pier Sandro
authors: PS
authors: Cocconcelli
authors: Michiel
authors: M
authors: Kleerebezem
authors: Armin
authors: A
authors: Geyer
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Hartung
authors: Siegfried
authors: S
authors: Morath
authors: Pascal
authors: P
authors: Hols