title: Synthesis of glycerol phosphate lipoteichoic acid in Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: Lipoteichoic acid (LTA), a glycerol phosphate surface polymer, is a component of the envelope of Gram-positive bacteria. However, the molecular basis for its synthesis or function is not known. Here we report that Staphylococcus aureus LtaS synthesizes glycerol phosphate LTA. Construction of a mutant S. aureus strain with inducible ltaS expression revealed that LTA synthesis is required for bacterial growth and cell division. An ltaS homologue of Bacillus subtilis restored LTA synthesis and the growth of ltaS mutant staphylococci. Thus, LtaS inhibition can be used as a target to treat human infections caused by antibiotic-resistant S. aureus or other bacterial pathogens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Chicago, 920 East 58th Street, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
authors.forename: Angelika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gründling
authors.forename: Olaf
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Schneewind
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D013682:Teichoic Acids / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D013682:Teichoic Acids; C009900:lipoteichoic acid