Cell wall elongation mode in Gram-negative bacteria is determined by peptidoglycan architecture

Robert D. Turner, Alexander F. Hurd, Ashley Cadby, Jamie K. Hobbs and Simon J. Foster ()
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Robert D. Turner: Krebs Institute, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank
Alexander F. Hurd: Krebs Institute, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank
Ashley Cadby: Krebs Institute, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank
Jamie K. Hobbs: Krebs Institute, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank
Simon J. Foster: Krebs Institute, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank

Nature Communications, 2013, vol. 4, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Cellular integrity and morphology of most bacteria is maintained by cell wall peptidoglycan, the target of antibiotics essential in modern healthcare. It consists of glycan strands, cross-linked by peptides, whose arrangement determines cell shape, prevents lysis due to turgor pressure and yet remains dynamic to allow insertion of new material, and hence growth. The cellular architecture and insertion pattern of peptidoglycan have remained elusive. Here we determine the peptidoglycan architecture and dynamics during growth in rod-shaped Gram-negative bacteria. Peptidoglycan is made up of circumferentially oriented bands of material interspersed with a more porous network. Super-resolution fluorescence microscopy reveals an unexpected discontinuous, patchy synthesis pattern. We present a consolidated model of growth via architecture-regulated insertion, where we propose only the more porous regions of the peptidoglycan network that are permissive for synthesis.

Date: 2013
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2503

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