Premium
Cell wall assembly in Bacillus subtilis : how spirals and spaces challenge paradigms
Author(s) -
Bhavsar Amit P.,
Brown Eric D.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2006.05169.x
Subject(s) - peptidoglycan , bacillus subtilis , biology , teichoic acid , periplasmic space , cell wall , compartment (ship) , bacterial cell structure , lysin , function (biology) , microbiology and biotechnology , cell envelope , computational biology , biochemistry , bacteria , genetics , escherichia coli , gene , oceanography , bacteriophage , geology
Summary Although the bacterial cell wall has been the subject of decades of investigation, recent studies continue to generate novel and controversial models of its synthesis and assembly. Here we compare and contrast the transcompartmental biosyntheses of peptidoglycan and teichoic acid in Bacillus subtilis . In addition, the current paradigms of B. subtilis wall assembly and structure are distinguished from emerging models of murein insertion and organization. We discuss evidence for the directed, cytoskeleton‐dependent insertion of nascent peptidoglycan and the existence of a periplasmic compartment. Furthermore, we summarize the challenges these findings represent to the existing paradigm of murein insertion. Finally, motivated by these new developments, we discuss outstanding issues that remain to be addressed and suggest research directions that may contribute to a better understanding of cell wall assembly in B. subtilis .