Crosslink cleaving enzymes: the smart autolysins that remodel the bacterial cell wall

Trends Microbiol. 2023 Dec 9:S0966-842X(23)00322-0. doi: 10.1016/j.tim.2023.11.004. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTPeptidoglycan (PG) is a protective mesh-like polymer in bacterial cell walls that enables their survival in almost every ecological niche. PG is formed by crosslinking of several glycan strands through short peptides, conferring a characteristic structure and elasticity, distinguishing it from other polymeric exoskeletons. The significance of PG crosslink formation has been known for decades, as some of the most widely used antibiotics, namely β-lactams, target the enzymes that catalyze this step. However, the importance of crosslink hydrolysis in PG biology remained largely underappreciated. Recent advances demonstrate the functions of crosslink cleavage in diverse physiological processes, including an indispensable role in PG expansion during the cell cycle, thereby making crosslink cleaving enzymes an untapped target for novel drugs. Here, we elaborate on the fundamental roles of crosslink-specific endopeptidases and their regulation across the bacterial kingdom.PMID:38072724 | DOI:10.1016/j.tim.2023.11.004

Source: Trends in Microbiology - December 10, 2023 Category: Microbiology Authors: Vaidehi Rajguru Stuti Chatterjee Shambhavi Garde Manjula Reddy Source Type: research