A metabolomic view of Staphylococcus aureus and its ser/thr kinase and phosphatase deletion mutants: involvement in cell wall biosynthesis.
Little is known about intracellular metabolite pools in pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus. We have studied a particular metabolome by means of the presented LC-MS method. By investigating the central carbon metabolism which includes most of the energy transfer molecules like nucleotides, sugar mono- and biphosphates, and cofactors, a conclusion about phenotypes and stress answers in microorganisms is possible. Quantitative metabolite levels of S. aureus grown in complex lysogeny broth and in minimal medium were compared in the wild-type S. aureus strain 8325 and the isogenic eukaryotic-like protein serine/threonine kinase (DeltapknB) and phosphatase (Deltastp) deletion mutants. Detection of several remarkable differences, e.g., in nucleotide metabolism and especially cell wall precursor metabolites, indicates a previously unreported importance of serine/threonine kinase/phosphatase on peptidoglycan and wall teichoic acid biosynthesis. These findings may lead to new insights into the regulation of staphylococcal cell wall metabolism.
Liebeke
Manuel
M
Institute of Pharmacy, University of Greifswald, F.-L.-Jahn Strasse 17, 17487 Greifswald, Germany.
Meyer
Hanna
H
Donat
Stefanie
S
Ohlsen
Knut
K
Lalk
Michael
M
D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000378:metabolism*; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D042541:Intracellular Space / Q000378:metabolism; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D055442:Metabolome / Q000235:genetics; D055432:Metabolomics / Q000379:methods*; D009711:Nucleotides / Q000378:metabolism; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*
D009711:Nucleotides; D002244:Carbon; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases