Open AccessThe biosynthesis of peptidoglycan lipid‐linked intermediates
Author(s) -
Bouhss Ahmed,
Trunkfield Amy E.,
Bugg Timothy D.H.,
MenginLecreulx Dominique
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
fems microbiology reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.91
H-Index - 212
eISSN - 1574-6976
pISSN - 0168-6445
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6976.2007.00089.x
Subject(s) - lipid ii , peptidoglycan , biosynthesis , cytoplasm , biochemistry , biology , bacterial cell structure , cell wall , enzyme , cell membrane , membrane , bacteria , genetics
The biosynthesis of bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan is a complex process involving many different steps taking place in the cytoplasm (synthesis of the nucleotide precursors) and on the inner and outer sides of the cytoplasmic membrane (assembly and polymerization of the disaccharide‐peptide monomer unit, respectively). This review summarizes the current knowledge on the membrane steps leading to the formation of the lipid II intermediate, i.e. the substrate of the polymerization reactions. It makes the point on past and recent data that have significantly contributed to the understanding of the biosynthesis of undecaprenyl phosphate, the carrier lipid required for the anchoring of the peptidoglycan hydrophilic units in the membrane, and to the characterization of the MraY and MurG enzymes which catalyze the successive transfers of the N ‐acetylmuramoyl‐peptide and N ‐acetylglucosamine moieties onto the carrier lipid, respectively. Enzyme inhibitors and antibacterial compounds interfering with these essential metabolic steps and interesting targets are presented.