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Bacterial L‐forms on tap: an improved methodology to generate Bacillus subtilis L‐forms heralds a new era of research
Author(s) -
Devine Kevin M.
Publication year - 2012
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.1365-2958.2011.07922.x
Subject(s) - bacillus subtilis , biology , autolysin , bacteria , bacillus (shape) , cell wall , bacterial cell structure , microbiology and biotechnology , computational biology , biochemistry , genetics , streptococcus pneumoniae
Summary Bacterial L‐forms are cell wall‐less forms of bacteria that usually grow with a conventional cell wall. Despite being important for research, L‐forms are difficult to generate reproducibly and research in this area is challenging. Domínguez‐Cuevas et al. (2011) report a method to rapidly, quantitatively and reproducibly generate populations of L‐forms in Bacillus subtilis . Importantly, the methodology may be applicable to other bacteria heralding a new era of L‐form research. Moreover, the genetic requirements of this method provide insights into how Lipid II synthesis and autolysin expression/activity are normally balanced and the central role of the WalRK two‐component system in this process.