Peptidoglycan (PGN) is a unique component of prokaryotic cell walls with immune-enhancing capacities. Here, we extracted PGN from Corynebacterium glutamicum, a by-product of amino acid fermentation, using the trichloroacetic acid (TCA) method. SDS-PAGE analysis confirmed the presence of PGN, with a band of approximately 28 kDa. Further analysis was conducted through amino acid analysis, FTIR, and MALDI-TOF/TOF MS, and the results showed that the chemical structural monomer of PGN is NAG-(β-1,4-)-NAM-l-Ala-d-Glu-l-Lis-d-Ala. The immune activation effects of PGN were evaluated in a RAW264.7 cell model. Our results showed that PGN could increase the secretion level of NO, ROS, and immune regulatory substances, including TNF-α and IL-1β, and up-regulated the mRNA expression of TNF-α and iNOS. In addition, PGN stimulated the expression of ERK2, MyD88, RIP2, and the related receptor NOD1 in the NF-κB and MAPK pathways. Comparative RNA sequencing was conducted to analyze the gene expression profiles in RAW264.7 cells. KEGG analysis indicated that most of the genes were enriched in the NF-κB, MAPK, and TNF signaling pathways. Taken together, these findings suggest that PGN may have immune-activating potential for the development and application of immune adjuvants. Importantly, the application of PGN also provides a new way to utilize amino acid fermentation by-products.
Keywords: Corynebacterium glutamicum; RAW264.7 cells; cytokines; immune activation; peptidoglycan.