title: Regulation of bacterial cell wall growth.
abstract: During growth and propagation, a bacterial cell enlarges and subsequently divides its peptidoglycan (PG) sacculus, a continuous mesh-like layer that encases the cell membrane to confer mechanical strength and morphological robustness. The mechanism of sacculus growth, how it is regulated and how it is coordinated with other cellular processes is poorly understood. In this article, we will discuss briefly the current knowledge of how cell wall synthesis is regulated, on multiple levels, from both sides of the cytoplasmic membrane. According to the current knowledge, cytosolic scaffolding proteins connect PG synthases with cytoskeletal elements, and protein phosphorylation regulates cell wall growth in Gram-positive species. PG-active enzymes engage in multiple protein-protein interactions within PG synthesis multienzyme complexes, and some of the interactions modulate activities. PG synthesis is also regulated by central metabolism, and by PG maturation through the action of PG hydrolytic enzymes. Only now are we beginning to appreciate how these multiple levels of regulating PG synthesis enable the cell to propagate robustly with a defined cell shape under different and variable growth conditions.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Alexander J F
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Egan
authors.affiliation: Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Cleverley
authors.affiliation: Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.affiliation: Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.affiliation: Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Waldemar
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Vollmer
mesh_terms: D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000235:genetics; D010457:Peptidoglycan / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D060066:Protein Interaction Maps / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D010457:Peptidoglycan
keywords: divisome; elongasome; penicillin-binding protein; peptidoglycan; protein phosphorylation