scholarly journals The biosynthesis of the wall teichoic acid in Staphylococcus lactis I3

1968 ◽  
Vol 110 (3) ◽  
pp. 565-571 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Baddiley ◽  
N. L. Blumsom ◽  
L. Julia Douglas
Keyword(s):  
Enzyme System ◽  
Teichoic Acid ◽  
Glycerol Phosphate ◽  
Wall Teichoic Acid ◽  
Enzyme Preparations

1. The biosynthesis of the wall teichoic acid in Staphylococcus lactis I3 was studied. Cell-free particulate enzyme preparations, probably representing fragmented membrane, were isolated and used for the synthesis of polymer. 2. By using appropriately labelled CDP-glycerol and UDP-N-acetylglucosamine it was shown that the former contributes a glycerol phosphate residue and the latter contributes an N-acetylglucosamine 1-phosphate residue to the repeating unit. 3. No polymer was synthesized unless both nucleotides were present, and no other substrates were required. 4. The properties of the enzyme system were studied. 5. Although attempts to fractionate the system failed, the biosynthesis is believed to be complex and its mechanism is considered.

scholarly journals Teichoic acid synthesis in Bacillus stearothermophilus

1974 ◽  
Vol 138 (3) ◽  
pp. 525-535 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. D. Kennedy
Keyword(s):  
Alkaline Hydrolysis ◽  
Bacillus Stearothermophilus ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Enzyme System ◽  
Teichoic Acid ◽  
Periodate Oxidation ◽  
Acid Synthesis ◽  
Pulse Labelling ◽  
Glycerol Phosphate ◽  
Enzyme Preparations

1. Particulate enzyme preparations obtained from Bacillus stearothermophilus B65 by digestion with lysozyme were shown to catalyse teichoic acid synthesis. With CDP-glycerol as sole substrate the preparations synthesized 1,3-poly(glycerol phosphate). It was characterized by alkaline hydrolysis, by glucosylation to the alkali-stable 2-glucosyl-1,3-poly(glycerol phosphate) with excess of UDP-glucose and a Bacillus subtilis Marburg enzyme system, by degradation of this latter product with 60%HF and periodate oxidation of the resulting glucosylglycerol. The specificity of the B. subtilis system previously reported (Glaser & Burger, 1964), was confirmed in the present work. 2. Pulse-labelling experiments, followed by periodate oxidation of the product and isolation of formaldehyde from the glycerol terminus of the polymer, showed that the B. stearothermophilus enzyme system transferred glycerol phosphate units to the glycerol end of the chain. The transfer reaction was irreversible. It was not determined if these poly(glycerol phosphate) chains were synthesized de novo, but it was shown that the newly synthesized oligomers were bound to much larger molecules. 3. When the B. stearothermophilus enzyme system was supplied with both CDP-glycerol and UDP-glucose, 1-glucosyl-2,3-poly(glycerol phosphate) was synthesized in addition to the 1,3-isomer. The former polymer was characterized by acid and alkaline hydrolysis, degradation with HF and periodate oxidation of the resulting glucosylglycerol, and periodate oxidation of the intact polymer followed by mild acid hydrolysis. This latter procedure removed the glucose substituents without disrupting the poly(glycerol phosphate) chain. 4. The poly(glycerol phosphate) isomers were distinguished by glucosylation with the B. subtilis enzymes and alkaline hydrolysis, the 2,3-isomer remaining alkali-labile. The proportion of 2,3-poly(glycerol phosphate) in the product increased with increasing amounts of UDP-glucose in the incubation mixture, but the total glycerol phosphate incorporated into products remained constant. It is suggested that the synthetic pathways of the two poly(glycerol phosphate) species may share a rate-limiting step.

scholarly journals Surface Glycopolymers Are Crucial forIn VitroAnti-Wall Teichoic Acid IgG-Mediated Complement Activation and Opsonophagocytosis of Staphylococcus aureus

2015 ◽  
Vol 83 (11) ◽  
pp. 4247-4255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jong-Ho Lee ◽  
Na-Hyang Kim ◽  
Volker Winstel ◽  
Kenji Kurokawa ◽  
Jesper Larsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Teichoic Acid ◽  
Complement C3 ◽  
Glycerol Phosphate ◽  
Glycosylation Pattern ◽  
Wall Teichoic Acid ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria ◽  
Capsule Production ◽  
Cell Envelopes

ABSTRACTThe cell envelopes of many Gram-positive bacteria contain wall teichoic acids (WTAs).Staphylococcus aureusWTAs are composed of ribitol phosphate (RboP) or glycerol phosphate (GroP) backbones substituted withd-alanine andN-acetyl-d-glucosamine (GlcNAc) orN-acetyl-d-galactosamine (GalNAc). Two WTA glycosyltransferases, TarM and TarS, are responsible for modifying the RboP WTA with α-GlcNAc and β-GlcNAc, respectively. We recently reported that purified human serum anti-WTA IgG specifically recognizes β-GlcNAc of the staphylococcal RboP WTA and then facilitates complement C3 deposition and opsonophagocytosis ofS. aureuslaboratory strains. This prompted us to examine whether anti-WTA IgG can induce C3 deposition on a diverse set of clinicalS. aureusisolates. To this end, we compared anti-WTA IgG-mediated C3 deposition and opsonophagocytosis abilities using 13 different staphylococcal strains. Of note, the majority ofS. aureusstrains tested was recognized by anti-WTA IgG, resulting in C3 deposition and opsonophagocytosis. A minority of strains was not recognized by anti-WTA IgG, which correlated with either extensive capsule production or an alteration in the WTA glycosylation pattern. Our results demonstrate that the presence of WTAs with TarS-mediated glycosylation with β-GlcNAc in clinically isolatedS. aureusstrains is an important factor for induction of anti-WTA IgG-mediated C3 deposition and opsonophagocytosis.

scholarly journals Studies on the linkage between teichoic acid and peptidoglycan in a bacteriophage-resistant mutant of Staphylococcus aureus H

1975 ◽  
Vol 149 (3) ◽  
pp. 637-647 ◽  
Author(s):  
J E Heckels ◽  
A R Archibald ◽  
J Baddiley
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Teichoic Acid ◽  
Resistant Mutant ◽  
Muramic Acid ◽  
Glycerol Phosphate ◽  
Wall Teichoic Acid ◽  
Phosphodiester Linkage ◽  
A Chain

1. In addition to poly(ribitol phosphate) the walls of a bacteriophage-resistant mutant of Staphylococcus aureus H contain glycerol phosphate residues that are not removed on digestion with trypsin or extraction with phenol. 2. The glycerol phosphate is present in a chain, containing three or four glycerol phosphate residues, which is covalently attached to the peptidoglycan through a phosphodiester linkage to muramic acid; this linkage is readily hydrolysed by dilute alkali. 3. The degradative studies described suggest that the poly(ribitol phosphate) chains of the wall teichoic acid may be attached to the wall by linkage to this glycerol phosphate oligomer.

scholarly journals Biosynthesis of the wall teichoic acid in Bacillus licheniformis

1972 ◽  
Vol 127 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. C. Hancock ◽  
J. Baddiley
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Licheniformis ◽  
Teichoic Acid ◽  
Chain Extension ◽  
Pulse Labelling ◽  
Glycerol Phosphate ◽  
Wall Teichoic Acid ◽  
Anomeric Configuration ◽  
Glucose Phosphate ◽  
Chemical Studies ◽  
Two Stages

1. The biosynthesis of the wall teichoic acid, poly(glycerol phosphate glucose), has been studied with a particulate membrane preparation from Bacillus licheniformis A.T.C.C. 9945. The precursor CDP-glycerol supplies glycerol phosphate residues, whereas UDP-glucose supplies only glucose to the repeating structure of the polymer. 2. Synthesis proceeds through polyprenol phosphate derivatives, and chemical studies and pulse-labelling techniques show that the first intermediate is the phosphodiester, glucose polyprenol monophosphate. CDP-glycerol donates a glycerol phosphate residue to this to give a second intermediate, (glycerol phosphate glucose phosphate) polyprenol. 3. The glucose residue in the lipid intermediates has the β configuration, and chain extension in the synthesis of polymer occurs by transglycosylation with inversion of anomeric configuration at two stages.

scholarly journals The membrane teichoic acid of Staphylococcus lactis I3

1968 ◽  
Vol 110 (3) ◽  
pp. 559-563 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. R. Archibald ◽  
J Baddiley ◽  
D. Button
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Fraction ◽  
Trichloroacetic Acid ◽  
Teichoic Acid ◽  
Amino Sugar ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Glycerol Phosphate ◽  
Wall Teichoic Acid ◽  
Teichoic Acids ◽  
High Lability

1. Teichoic acid was isolated by extraction with trichloroacetic acid of the membrane fraction of disrupted cells of Staphylococcus lactis I3. 2. The purified material contains glycerol, phosphate and alanine, but little or no sugar or amino sugar. 3. A study of the products of hydrolysis with acid and alkali established that the membrane teichoic acid is a (1→3)-linked poly(glycerol phosphate) that differs in structure from the glycerol teichoic acid in the wall of this organism. 4. The alanine ester residues show the characteristic high lability to alkali and are thus distinguishable from the more stable alanine ester residues of the wall teichoic acid. 5. The significance of these structural features and the possible function of teichoic acids are discussed.

The Wall Teichoic Acid Polymerase TagF Efficiently Synthesizes Poly(glycerol phosphate) on the TagB Product Lipid III

ChemBioChem ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 1385-1390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark P. Pereira ◽  
Jefferey W. Schertzer ◽  
Michael A. D'Elia ◽  
Kalinka P. Koteva ◽  
Donald W. Hughes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Teichoic Acid ◽  
Glycerol Phosphate ◽  
Wall Teichoic Acid

scholarly journals The Amino Terminus of Bacillus subtilis TagB Possesses Separable Localization and Functional Properties

2007 ◽  
Vol 189 (19) ◽  
pp. 6816-6823 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amit P. Bhavsar ◽  
Michael A. D'Elia ◽  
Tiffany D. Sahakian ◽  
Eric D. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Subtilis ◽  
Protein Function ◽  
Teichoic Acid ◽  
Acid Synthesis ◽  
Amino Terminus ◽  
Membrane Localization ◽  
Membrane Targeting ◽  
Glycerol Phosphate ◽  
Wall Teichoic Acid ◽  
Necessary And Sufficient

ABSTRACT The function(s) of gram-positive wall teichoic acid is emerging with recent findings that it is an important virulence factor in the pathogen Staphylococcus aureus and that it is crucial to proper rod-shaped cell morphology of Bacillus subtilis. Despite its importance, our understanding of teichoic acid biosynthesis remains incomplete. The TagB protein has been implicated in the priming step of poly(glycerol phosphate) wall teichoic acid synthesis in B. subtilis. Work to date indicates that the TagB protein is localized to the membrane, where it adds a single glycerol phosphate residue to the nonreducing end of the undecaprenol-phosphate-linked N-acetylmannosamine-β(1,4)-N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphate. Thus, membrane association is critical to TagB function. In this work we elucidate the mechanism of TagB membrane localization. We report the identification of a membrane targeting determinant at the amino terminus of TagB that is necessary and sufficient for membrane localization. The putative amphipathicity of this membrane targeting determinant was characterized and shown to be required for TagB function but not localization. This work shows for the first time that the amino terminus of TagB mediates membrane targeting and protein function.

Reconstituting poly(glycerol phosphate) wall teichoic acid biosynthesis in vitro using authentic substrates

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (10) ◽  
pp. 3823 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert T. Gale ◽  
Edward W. Sewell ◽  
Teresa A. Garrett ◽  
Eric D. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Teichoic Acid ◽  
Glycerol Phosphate ◽  
Acid Biosynthesis ◽  
Wall Teichoic Acid

scholarly journals Teichoic Acid Is an Essential Polymer in Bacillus subtilis That Is Functionally Distinct from Teichuronic Acid

2004 ◽  
Vol 186 (23) ◽  
pp. 7865-7873 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amit P. Bhavsar ◽  
Laura K. Erdman ◽  
Jeffrey W. Schertzer ◽  
Eric D. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Bacillus Subtilis ◽  
Teichoic Acid ◽  
Wall Thickening ◽  
Glycerol Phosphate ◽  
Wall Teichoic Acid ◽  
Teichoic Acids ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria ◽  
Teichuronic Acid ◽  
Wall Teichoic Acids

ABSTRACT Wall teichoic acids are anionic, phosphate-rich polymers linked to the peptidoglycan of gram-positive bacteria. In Bacillus subtilis, the predominant wall teichoic acid types are poly(glycerol phosphate) in strain 168 and poly(ribitol phosphate) in strain W23, and they are synthesized by the tag and tar gene products, respectively. Growing evidence suggests that wall teichoic acids are essential in B. subtilis; however, it is widely believed that teichoic acids are dispensable under phosphate-limiting conditions. In the work reported here, we carefully studied the dispensability of teichoic acid under phosphate-limiting conditions by constructing three new mutants. These strains, having precise deletions in tagB, tagF, and tarD, were dependent on xylose-inducible complementation from a distal locus (amyE) for growth. The tarD deletion interrupted poly(ribitol phosphate) synthesis in B. subtilis and represents a unique deletion of a tar gene. When teichoic acid biosynthetic proteins were depleted, the mutants showed a coccoid morphology and cell wall thickening. The new wall teichoic acid biogenesis mutants generated in this work and a previously reported tagD mutant were not viable under phosphate-limiting conditions in the absence of complementation. Cell wall analysis of B. subtilis grown under phosphate-limited conditions showed that teichoic acid contributed approximately one-third of the wall anionic content. These data suggest that wall teichoic acid has an essential function in B. subtilis that cannot be replaced by teichuronic acid.

scholarly journals Studies of the Genetics, Function, and Kinetic Mechanism of TagE, the Wall Teichoic Acid Glycosyltransferase in Bacillus subtilis 168

2011 ◽  
Vol 286 (27) ◽  
pp. 23708-23716 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah E. Allison ◽  
Michael A. D'Elia ◽  
Sharif Arar ◽  
Mario A. Monteiro ◽  
Eric D. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Subtilis ◽  
Teichoic Acid ◽  
Indirect Evidence ◽  
Kinetic Mechanism ◽  
Glycerol Phosphate ◽  
Wall Teichoic Acid ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Polymeric Form ◽  
Polymer Backbone ◽  
Strong Basis

The biosynthetic enzymes involved in wall teichoic acid biogenesis in Gram-positive bacteria have been the subject of renewed investigation in recent years with the benefit of modern tools of biochemistry and genetics. Nevertheless, there have been only limited investigations into the enzymes that glycosylate wall teichoic acid. Decades-old experiments in the model Gram-positive bacterium, Bacillus subtilis 168, using phage-resistant mutants implicated tagE (also called gtaA and rodD) as the gene coding for the wall teichoic acid glycosyltransferase. This study and others have provided only indirect evidence to support a role for TagE in wall teichoic acid glycosylation. In this work, we showed that deletion of tagE resulted in the loss of α-glucose at the C-2 position of glycerol in the poly(glycerol phosphate) polymer backbone. We also reported the first kinetic characterization of pure, recombinant wall teichoic acid glycosyltransferase using clean synthetic substrates. We investigated the substrate specificity of TagE using a wide variety of acceptor substrates and found that the enzyme had a strong kinetic preference for the transfer of glucose from UDP-glucose to glycerol phosphate in polymeric form. Further, we showed that the enzyme recognized its polymeric (and repetitive) substrate with a sequential kinetic mechanism. This work provides direct evidence that TagE is the wall teichoic acid glycosyltransferase in B. subtilis 168 and provides a strong basis for further studies of the mechanism of wall teichoic acid glycosylation, a largely uncharted aspect of wall teichoic acid biogenesis.

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