title: Cortex synthesis during Bacillus subtilis sporulation depends on the transpeptidase activity of SpoVD.
abstract: The nonessential process of peptidoglycan synthesis during Bacillus subtilis sporulation is one model to study bacterial cell wall biogenesis. SpoVD is a class B high-molecular-weight penicillin-binding protein that is specific for sporulation. Strains lacking this protein produce spores without the peptidoglycan cortex layer and are heat sensitive. The detailed functions of the four different protein domains of SpoVD are unknown, and the observed phenotype of strains lacking the entire protein could be an indirect defect. We therefore inactivated the transpeptidase domain by substitution of the active-site serine residue. Our results demonstrate that endospore cortex synthesis depends on the transpeptidase activity of SpoVD specifically.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Microbiology Group, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. Ewa.Bukowska-Faniband@biol.lu.se
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bukowska-Faniband
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hederstedt
mesh_terms: D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008853:Microscopy; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D050505:Mutant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010457:Peptidoglycan / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010458:Peptidyl Transferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D050505:Mutant Proteins; D010457:Peptidoglycan; C085450:SpoVD protein, Bacillus subtilis; D010458:Peptidyl Transferases
keywords: endospore; penicillin-binding protein; peptidoglycan