scholarly journals The teichuronic acid of cell walls of Bacillus subtilis W23 grown in a chemostat under phosphate limitation

1975 ◽  
Vol 147 (1) ◽  
pp. 187-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Wright ◽  
J E Heckels
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Subtilis ◽  
Dilution Rate ◽  
Cell Walls ◽  
Glucuronic Acid ◽  
Teichoic Acid ◽  
Phosphate Limitation ◽  
Teichuronic Acid

Cell walls of Bacillus subtilis W23 contain teichuronic acid when grown in a chemostat under phosphate limitation at a low dilution rate, but teichoic acid at a higher dilution rate. The teichuronic acid was purified and shown to be a polymer of glucuronic acid and N-acetylgalactosamine.

scholarly journals Influence of growth condition on the concentration of potassium in Bacillus subtilis var. niger and its possible relationship to cellular ribonucleic acid, teichoic acid and teichuronic acid

1968 ◽  
Vol 106 (1) ◽  
pp. 237-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. W. Tempest ◽  
J. W. Dicks ◽  
D C Ellwood
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Subtilis ◽  
Dilution Rate ◽  
Cell Walls ◽  
Teichoic Acid ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Glycerol Phosphate ◽  
Anionic Polymer ◽  
Type Compound ◽  
Acid Type ◽  
Teichuronic Acid

1. Mg2+-limited Bacillus subtilis var. niger, growing in a chemostat in a simple salts medium, contained considerably more potassium and phosphorus than Mg2+-limited Aerobacter aerogenes growing in a similar medium at corresponding dilution rates. 2. Growth of the bacillus in a K+-limited environment did not lower the cellular potassium and phosphorus contents, the molar proportions of cell-bound magnesium, potassium, RNA (as nucleotide) and phosphorus being approximately constant at 1:13:5:13 (compared with 1:4:5:8 in Mg2+-limited or K+-limited A. aerogenes). 3. Growth of B. subtilis in a phosphate-limited environment caused the cellular phosphorus content to be lowered to a value similar to that of Mg2+-limited A. aerogenes, but the potassium content was not correspondingly lowered; the molar potassium:magnesium ratio varied from 14 to 17 with changes in dilution rate from 0·4 to 0·1hr.−1. 4. Whereas over 70% of the cell-bound phosphorus of Mg2+-limited or K+-limited A. aerogenes was contained in the nucleic acids, these polymers accounted for less than 50% of the phosphorus present in similarly limited B. subtilis; much phosphorus was present in the walls of the bacilli, bound in a teichoic acid-type compound composed of glycerol phosphate and glucose (but no alanine). 5. Phosphate-limited B. subtilis cell walls (from organisms grown at a dilution rate of 0·2hr.−1) contained little phosphorus and no detectable amounts of teichoic acid, but 40% of the cell-wall dry weight could be accounted for by a teichuronic acid-type compound; this contained a glucuronic acid and galactosamine, neither of which could be detected in the walls of Mg2+-limited B. subtilis grown at a corresponding rate. 6. It is suggested that the high concentration of potassium in growing B. subtilis (compared with A. aerogenes) results from the presence of large amounts of anionic polymer (teichoic acid or teichuronic acid) in the bacillus cell walls.

scholarly journals Binding of magnesium ions to cell walls of Bacillus subtilis W23 containing teichoic acid or teichuronic acid

1977 ◽  
Vol 162 (2) ◽  
pp. 359-365 ◽  
Author(s):  
J E Heckels ◽  
P A Lambert ◽  
J Baddiley
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Subtilis ◽  
Cell Walls ◽  
Equilibrium Dialysis ◽  
Teichoic Acid ◽  
Molar Ratio ◽  
Ion Binding ◽  
Anionic Polymers ◽  
Nutritional Conditions ◽  
Teichuronic Acid ◽  
Apparent Association

When grown in a chemostat under various nutritional conditions, cells of Bacillus subtilis W23 produce walls containing teichoic acid or teichuronic acid. The binding of Mg2+ to these walls and to the isolated anionic polymers in solution was measured by equilibrium dialysis. In solution the ribitol teichoic acid bound Mg2+ in the molar ratio Mg2+/P=1:1 with an apparent association constant (Kassoc.) of 0.61 X 10(3)M-1, and the teichuronic acid bound Mg2+ in the ratio Mg2+/CO2-=1.1, Kassoc.=0.3 X 10(3)M-1. Cell walls containing teichuronic acid exhibited closely similar binding properties to those containing teichoic acid; in both cases Mg2+ was bound in the ratio Mg/P or Mg/CO2- of 0.5:1 and with a greater affinity than displayed by the isolated polymers in solution. It was concluded that Mg2+ ions are bound bivalently between anionic centres in the walls and that the incorporation of teichoic acid or teichuronic acid into the walls gives rise to similar ion-binding and charged properties. The results are discussed in relation to the possible functions of anionic polymers in cell walls.

scholarly journals Cell Walls of a Teichoic Acid Deficient Mutant of Bacillus subtilis

1971 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 442-450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean Heijenoort ◽  
Daniele Menjon ◽  
Bernard Flouret ◽  
Jekisiel Szulmajster ◽  
Jean Laporte ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Subtilis ◽  
Cell Walls ◽  
Teichoic Acid ◽  
Deficient Mutant

scholarly journals Control of teichoic acid and teichuronic acid biosynthesis in chemostat cultures of Bacillus subtilis var. niger

1969 ◽  
Vol 111 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
D C Ellwood ◽  
D. W. Tempest
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Bacillus Subtilis ◽  
Teichoic Acid ◽  
Extracellular Fluid ◽  
Acid Synthesis ◽  
Growth Cycle ◽  
Wall Material ◽  
Wall Teichoic Acid ◽  
Anionic Polymers ◽  
Teichuronic Acid

1. Quantitative determination of the anionic polymers present in the walls of Bacillus subtilis var. niger organisms undergoing transition, in a chemostat culture, from either Mg2+-limitation to PO43−-limitation or K+-limitation to PO43−-limitation showed that teichuronic acid synthesis started immediately the culture became PO43−-limited and proceeded at a rate substantially faster than the rate of biomass synthesis. 2. Simultaneously, the cell-wall teichoic acid content diminished at a rate greater than that due to dilution by newly synthesized wall material, and fragments of teichoic acid and mucopeptide accumulated in the culture extracellular fluid. 3. Equally rapid reverse changes occurred when a PO43−-limited B. subtilis var. niger culture was returned to being Mg2+-limited. 4. It is concluded that in this organism both teichoic acid and teichuronic acid syntheses are expressions of a single genotype, and a mechanism for the control of synthesis of both polymers is suggested. 5. These results are discussed with reference to the constantly changing environmental conditions that obtain in a batch culture and the variation in bacterial cell-wall composition that is reported to occur throughout the growth cycle.

scholarly journals Genome-Wide Analysis of Phosphorylated PhoP Binding to Chromosomal DNA Reveals Several Novel Features of the PhoPR-Mediated Phosphate Limitation Response in Bacillus subtilis

2015 ◽  
Vol 197 (8) ◽  
pp. 1492-1506 ◽  
Author(s):  
Letal I. Salzberg ◽  
Eric Botella ◽  
Karsten Hokamp ◽  
Haike Antelmann ◽  
Sandra Maaß ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Bacillus Subtilis ◽  
Response Regulator ◽  
Teichoic Acid ◽  
Phosphate Limitation ◽  
Chromosomal Dna ◽  
Cell Wall Metabolism ◽  
Wall Teichoic Acid ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Two Component

ABSTRACTThe PhoPR two-component signal transduction system controls one of three responses activated byBacillus subtilisto adapt to phosphate-limiting conditions (PHO response). The response involves the production of enzymes and transporters that scavenge for phosphate in the environment and assimilate it into the cell. However, inB. subtilisand some otherFirmicutesbacteria, cell wall metabolism is also part of the PHO response due to the high phosphate content of the teichoic acids attached either to peptidoglycan (wall teichoic acid) or to the cytoplasmic membrane (lipoteichoic acid). Prompted by our observation that the phosphorylated WalR (WalR∼P) response regulator binds to more chromosomal loci than are revealed by transcriptome analysis, we established the PhoP∼P bindome in phosphate-limited cells. Here, we show that PhoP∼P binds to the chromosome at 25 loci: 12 are within the promoters of previously identified PhoPR regulon genes, while 13 are newly identified. We extend the role of PhoPR in cell wall metabolism showing that PhoP∼P binds to the promoters of four cell wall-associated operons (ggaAB,yqgS,wapA, anddacA), although none show PhoPR-dependent expression under the conditions of this study. We also show that positive autoregulation ofphoPRexpression and full induction of the PHO response upon phosphate limitation require PhoP∼P binding to the 3′ end of thephoPRoperon.IMPORTANCEThe PhoPR two-component system controls one of three responses mounted byB. subtilisto adapt to phosphate limitation (PHO response). Here, establishment of the phosphorylated PhoP (PhoP∼P) bindome enhances our understanding of the PHO response in two important ways. First, PhoPR plays a more extensive role in adaptation to phosphate-limiting conditions than was deduced from transcriptome analyses. Among 13 newly identified binding sites, 4 are cell wall associated (ggaAB,yqgS,wapA, anddacA), revealing that PhoPR has an extended involvement in cell wall metabolism. Second, amplification of the PHO response must occur by a novel mechanism since positive autoregulation ofphoPRexpression requires PhoP∼P binding to the 3′ end of the operon.

scholarly journals Role of PhoP∼P in Transcriptional Regulation of Genes Involved in Cell Wall Anionic Polymer Biosynthesis in Bacillus subtilis

1998 ◽  
Vol 180 (15) ◽  
pp. 4007-4010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Qi ◽  
F. Marion Hulett
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Bacillus Subtilis ◽  
Teichoic Acid ◽  
Acid Synthesis ◽  
In Vitro Transcription ◽  
Anionic Polymer ◽  
Transcription System ◽  
Teichuronic Acid

ABSTRACT tagA, tagD, and tuaA operons are responsible for the synthesis of cell wall anionic polymer, teichoic acid, and teichuronic acid, respectively, in Bacillus subtilis. Under phosphate starvation conditions, teichuronic acid is synthesized while teichoic acid synthesis is inhibited. Expression of these genes is controlled by PhoP-PhoR, a two-component system. It has been proposed that PhoP∼P plays a key role in the activation oftuaA and the repression of tagA andtagD. In this study, we demonstrated the role of PhoP∼P in the switch process from teichoic acid synthesis to teichuronic acid synthesis, by using an in vitro transcription system. The results indicate that PhoP∼P is sufficient to repress the transcription of the tagA and tagD promoters and also to activate the transcription of the tuaA promoter.

scholarly journals The wall content and composition of Bacillus subtilis var. niger grown in a chemostat

1970 ◽  
Vol 118 (3) ◽  
pp. 367-373 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. C. Ellwood
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Subtilis ◽  
Phosphorus Content ◽  
Teichoic Acid ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Growth Conditions ◽  
Glycerol Phosphate ◽  
Limited Growth ◽  
Anionic Polymer ◽  
Rate Analysis ◽  
Teichuronic Acid

Bacillus subtilis var. niger was grown in a chemostat with various growth limitations and at various growth rates. The wall content and composition of the organism grown under these conditions were determined. The wall content, expressed as a percentage of the dry weight of organisms, varied with the growth rate. Analysis of wall samples showed that their composition also varied, particularly with respect to the phosphorus content. Wall samples extracted with trichloroacetic acid under carefully controlled conditions were found to contain various amounts of phosphorus, this being present as a glycerol phosphate polymer containing hexose (glucose and in some cases galactose), i.e. a teichoic aid. Teichoic acids were present in the walls of organisms grown under all conditions except when phosphorus limited growth. Then a different anionic polymer, composed of glucuronic acid and N-acetylgalactosamine (a teichuronic acid), was present. Under the specific growth conditions at pH7.0 and 35°C in a chemostat, teichoic acid and teichuronic acid appeared to be mutually exclusive.

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