Teichoic acid content in different lineages of Staphylococcus aureus NCTC8325

Jenni, R.; Berger‐Bächi, Brigitte

doi:10.1007/s002030050630

Cited by 24 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…These results correlated with the enhanced expression of methicillin resistance when MRSA is grown in either 7.5% NaCl or at pH 8, condi- (314,429). In studies of the mecA element in S. aureus, Jenni and Berger-Bächi (245) found that although mecA altered autolytic behavior, it had no effect on the cellular content, chain length, or D-alanine substitution of LTA and WTA. In addition, Peschel et al (390) observed no differences in methicillin sensitivity in the DltA Ϫ PBP2Ј-deficient S. aureus mutant.…”

Section: Correlation With Antibacterial Actionmentioning

confidence: 75%

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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Section: Correlation With Antibacterial Actionmentioning

confidence: 75%

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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“…2B and 5). The average chain length of poly-RboP WTA in RN450 as determined by compositional analysis has previously been estimated to be ϳ22 RboP repeats (24), indicating that the agr system can change the average length of WTA by up to 50%. This alone would be expected to significantly influence both the bacterial surface and the degree of surface accessibility for intracellular contacts.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Late-Stage Polyribitol Phosphate Wall Teichoic Acid Biosynthesis in Staphylococcus aureus

2008

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Wall teichoic acids are cell wall polymers that maintain the integrity of the cellular envelope and contribute to the virulence of Staphylococcus aureus. Despite the central role of wall teichoic acid in S. aureus virulence, details concerning the biosynthetic pathway of the predominant wall teichoic acid polymer are lacking, and workers have relied on a presumed similarity to the putative polyribitol phosphate wall teichoic acid pathway in Bacillus subtilis. Using high-resolution polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis for analysis of wall teichoic acid extracted from gene deletion mutants, a revised assembly pathway for the late-stage ribitol phosphate-utilizing enzymes is proposed. Complementation studies show that a putative ribitol phosphate polymerase, TarL, catalyzes both the addition of the priming ribitol phosphate onto the linkage unit and the subsequent polymerization of the polyribitol chain. It is known that the putative ribitol primase, TarK, is also a bifunctional enzyme that catalyzes both ribitol phosphate priming and polymerization. TarK directs the synthesis of a second, electrophoretically distinct polyribitol-containing teichoic acid that we designate K-WTA. The biosynthesis of K-WTA in S. aureus strain NCTC8325 is repressed by the accessory gene regulator (agr) system. The demonstration of regulated wall teichoic acid biosynthesis has implications for cell envelope remodeling in relation to S. aureus adhesion and pathogenesis.Wall teichoic acids (WTA) are anionic, carbohydrate-based polymers that are covalently attached to the peptidoglycan matrix of many gram-positive bacteria (32,41,44). In Bacillus subtilis, WTA accounts for 30 to 60% of the total cell wall mass and has been implicated in a number of roles critical to maintaining the overall integrity of the cell envelope (21). The loss of cell surface charge balance, tensile strength, rigidity, porosity, and proper cell morphology along with misregulation of autolysins are all associated with mutations in WTA-related genes (32). In addition to a structural role, the WTA polymer itself may also serve as a phosphate reservoir for transition to growth in phosphate-depleted medium and in cation (Mg 2ϩ / Ca 2ϩ ) assimilation/homeostasis (12). While much is known about the structure and function of WTA in rod-shaped bacteria, comparatively little is known about the role of WTA in coccoid bacteria. In contrast to findings for B. subtilis (10), the growth rate and fitness of Staphylococcus aureus lacking WTA is not significantly impaired (11,25,45). S. aureus WTA has been shown, however, to play an essential role in adhesion to endothelial and epithelial tissues and to be critical for colonization in multiple infection models (2,45,46). Since adhesion is a key step in infection, WTA can be considered a quintessential virulence factor, making it a potential target for antimicrobial intervention. To exploit the WTA pathway as a novel drug target in S. aureus, it is necessary to define the activity of the enzymes in the pathway and to elucidate the mec...

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“…Accordingly, several studies have demonstrated that the use of negatively charged materials, such as ionized plastics, Teflon, or heparinized surfaces, is of particular benefit in reducing colonization (2,11,12,15). Moreover, since the teichoic acid content and the degree of D-alanylation vary among S. aureus strains (16), increased amounts of D-alanine esters may contribute to the capacity of staphylococci to colonize indwelling devices.…”

Section: Fig 1 Biofilm Formation By S Aureus Strains In Polystyrenmentioning

confidence: 99%

Key Role of Teichoic Acid Net Charge in Staphylococcus aureus Colonization of Artificial Surfaces

et al. 2001

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Staphylococcus aureus is responsible for a large percentage of infections associated with implanted biomedical devices. The molecular basis of primary adhesion to artificial surfaces is not yet understood. Here, we demonstrate that teichoic acids, highly charged cell wall polymers, play a key role in the first step of biofilm formation. An S. aureus mutant bearing a stronger negative surface charge due to the lack of D-alanine esters in its teichoic acids can no longer colonize polystyrene or glass. The mutation abrogates primary adhesion to plastic while production of the glucosamine-based polymer involved in later steps of biofilm formation is not affected. Our data suggest that repulsive electrostatic forces can lead to reduced staphylococcal biofilm formation, which could have considerable impact on the design of novel implanted materials.

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Teichoic acid content in different lineages of Staphylococcus aureus NCTC8325

Cited by 24 publications

References 37 publications

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

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

Late-Stage Polyribitol Phosphate Wall Teichoic Acid Biosynthesis in Staphylococcus aureus

Key Role of Teichoic Acid Net Charge in Staphylococcus aureus Colonization of Artificial Surfaces

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