Open AccessBiosynthesis of Peptidoglycan in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Author(s) -
MIRELMAN David,
NUCHAMOWITZ Yael
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
european journal of biochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1432-1033
pISSN - 0014-2956
DOI - 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1979.tb12924.x
Subject(s) - peptidoglycan , biosynthesis , pseudomonas aeruginosa , chemistry , biochemistry , cephalosporin , peptide , antibiotics , carboxypeptidase , escherichia coli , enzyme , biology , bacteria , gene , genetics
The intrinsic effect of various β‐lactam antibiotics on the biosynthesis of peptidoglycan of Pseudomonas aeruginosa X‐48 was investigated. Most of the cephalosporins and penicillins tested already at 0.5 μg/ml strongly inhibited (a) the incorporation of nascent peptidoglycan into the detergent‐insoluble fraction (> 75%), (b) the formation of peptide crosslinkages (> 60%) and (c) the activity of the DD‐carboxypeptidase and partially that of the transpeptidase (∼ 90% and ∼ 40% respectively). Another group of β‐lactam drugs did not inhibit incorporation into the material insoluble in sodium dodecylsulfate, the formation of peptide crosslinkages nor transpeptidase activity. They only partially inhibited the activity of the DD‐carboxypeptidase–endopeptidase system (40–50% at 0.5 μg/ml). The results obtained differ from those of Presslitz and Ray [ Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 7 , 578–581 (1975)] and show some resemblance to the effects of β‐lactams on the biosynthesis of Escherichia coli peptidoglycan.