Inhibition of bacterial wall lysins by lipoteichoic acids and related compounds

Cleveland, R.F.; Höltje, J V; Wicken, A. J.; Tomasz, Alexander; Daneo-Moore, L; Shockman, Gérald D.

doi:10.1016/0006-291x(75)90791-3

Cited by 154 publications

(88 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Modulation of autolysin activity in bacilli has been ascribed to lipoteichoic acid (Cleveland et al, 1975), teichuronic acid (Robson & Baddiley, 1977) and possibly also teichoic acid (Brown et al, 1976). Lipoteichoic acid is unlikely to be present in isolated walls since they were treated with 4 yo SDS.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Lysozyme on Bacillus cereus 569: Rupture of Chains of Bacteria and Enhancement of Sensitivity to Autolysins

Westmacott¹,

Perkins²

1979

Journal of General Microbiology

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Bacillus cereus 569 is known to be resistant to lysis by lysozyme because of the presence of deacetylated glucosamine residues in its peptidoglycan, and cultures continued to grow even in the presence of lysozyme at 200 pg ml-? However, lysozyme caused rupture of the chains of bacteria and promoted the rate of autolysis in a non-growing cell suspension, causing a doubling of the rate of release of radioactively labelled wall material. Heatinactivated cells did not autolyse and were not lysed by lysozyme unless they were supplemented by unheated cells or cell-free autolysate. Enhancement of autolysin activity could also be effected by pre-treatment of heated cells with lysozyme. The action of lysozyme on isolated cell walls released some free reducing groups, indicating limited breakage of the polysaccharide chains of peptidoglycan, and it was concluded that lysozyme modified the peptidoglycan and made it more susceptible to autolysin(s). Lysozyme also enhanced the rate of septum separation and the probable significance of the results in relation to the control of cell separation is discussed.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Lysozyme on Bacillus cereus 569: Rupture of Chains of Bacteria and Enhancement of Sensitivity to Autolysins

Westmacott¹,

Perkins²

1979

Journal of General Microbiology

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“…The inhibitory action of LTA on autolysins (peptidoglycan hydrolyases) had been widely accepted in the literature (100,172,223,461). It was suggested that the degree of D-alanylation influenced this inhibitory activity and that alanine-free LTA and alanine-substituted LTA represented active and inactive forms, respectively, of an autolysin inhibitor (172).…”

Section: D-alanyl Esters In Autolysin Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Continuum of Anionic Charge: Structures and Functions ofd-Alanyl-Teichoic Acids in Gram-Positive Bacteria

Neuhaus

Baddiley

2003

Microbiol Mol Biol Rev

908

1,097

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SUMMARY Teichoic acids (TAs) are major wall and membrane components of most gram-positive bacteria. With few exceptions, they are polymers of glycerol-phosphate or ribitol-phosphate to which are attached glycosyl and d-alanyl ester residues. Wall TA is attached to peptidoglycan via a linkage unit, whereas lipoteichoic acid is attached to glycolipid intercalated in the membrane. Together with peptidoglycan, these polymers make up a polyanionic matrix that functions in (i) cation homeostasis; (ii) trafficking of ions, nutrients, proteins, and antibiotics; (iii) regulation of autolysins; and (iv) presentation of envelope proteins. The esterification of TAs with d-alanyl esters provides a means of modulating the net anionic charge, determining the cationic binding capacity, and displaying cations in the wall. This review addresses the structures and functions of d-alanyl-TAs, the d-alanylation system encoded by the dlt operon, and the roles of TAs in cell growth. The importance of dlt in the physiology of many organisms is illustrated by the variety of mutant phenotypes. In addition, advances in our understanding of d-alanyl ester function in virulence and host-mediated responses have been made possible through targeted mutagenesis of dlt. Studies of the mechanism of d-alanylation have identified two potential targets of antibacterial action and provided possible screening reactions for designing novel agents targeted to d-alanyl-TA synthesis.

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“…The control of the autolysins of Gram-positive bacteria has been extensively studied and specific cell envelope components, such as lipoteichoic acids, were found to play an important role in the regulation of the endogenous autolytic system of Gram-positive bacteria (Cleveland et al, 1975(Cleveland et al, , 1976a. Nevertheless, the mechanism(s) participating in the regulation and activation of the autolysins of Gram-negative bacteria remains largely unknown.…”

Section: A M P a R E N T E A N D M T Silva Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ultrastructural Aspects of Autolysis of Pseudomonas fluorescens Induced by Osmotic Shock

Parente¹,

Silva²

1984

Microbiology

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Autolysis of exponentially growing PseudomonasJEuorescens was induced by a rapid treatment with distilled water before treatment with 0.5 M-sodium acetate, pH 6.5, and incubation for 2 h at 30 "C. Electron microscopy revealed three stages of autolysis. In the first stage most of the cells were plasmolysed. In the second stage (from 5 to 20 min) the number of plasmolysed cells diminished, the profile of the outer membrane changed from asymmetric to symmetric, fractures appeared in the outer membrane and signs of peptidoglycan degradation became apparent. In the third stage (which began after 20 to 60 min) the ultrastructural alterations of the cell wall became more serious, the cytoplasmic membrane exhibited micromorphological lesions and progressive cellular disintegration occurred. The addition of chloramphenicol (100 pg ml-l ) or tetracycline (4.5 pg ml-l), to either the culture or the suspensions of autolysing cells, did not significantly reduce the rate of autolysis. The presence of Ca2 + or Mg2 + (10 mM) in the autolytic medium inhibited autolysis and there were no significant ultrastructural alterations. The presence of 2 mM-N-brornosuccinimide (an inhibitor of bacterial autolytic enzymes) in the autolytic medium strongly inhibited autolysis of P. Jluorescens; however, the bacteria incubated under these conditions showed significant ultrastructural alterations (extensive splitting of, and occasional fractures in, the outer membrane ; cytoplasmic membrane and ribosomes not visible).

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Inhibition of bacterial wall lysins by lipoteichoic acids and related compounds

Cited by 154 publications

References 17 publications

Effects of Lysozyme on Bacillus cereus 569: Rupture of Chains of Bacteria and Enhancement of Sensitivity to Autolysins

Effects of Lysozyme on Bacillus cereus 569: Rupture of Chains of Bacteria and Enhancement of Sensitivity to Autolysins

A Continuum of Anionic Charge: Structures and Functions ofd-Alanyl-Teichoic Acids in Gram-Positive Bacteria

Ultrastructural Aspects of Autolysis of Pseudomonas fluorescens Induced by Osmotic Shock

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