Synthesis of glycerol phosphate lipoteichoic acid in Staphylococcus aureus.
basic_science · Level V
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 17483484.
- Also identified by PMC identifier 1895975.
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Abstract
Lipoteichoic acid (LTA), a glycerol phosphate surface polymer, is a component of the envelope of Gram-positive bacteria. However, the molecular basis for its synthesis or function is not known. Here we report that Staphylococcus aureus LtaS synthesizes glycerol phosphate LTA. Construction of a mutant S. aureus strain with inducible ltaS expression revealed that LTA synthesis is required for bacterial growth and cell division. An ltaS homologue of Bacillus subtilis restored LTA synthesis and the growth of ltaS mutant staphylococci. Thus, LtaS inhibition can be used as a target to treat human infections caused by antibiotic-resistant S. aureus or other bacterial pathogens.
Medical subject headings
- Lipopolysaccharides
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Teichoic Acids