Lif, the lysostaphin immunity factor, complements FemB in staphylococcal peptidoglycan interpeptide bridge formation

FEMS Microbiol Lett. 1997 Aug 15;153(2):261-4. doi: 10.1016/s0378-1097(97)00234-6.

Abstract

The formation of the Staphylococcus aureus peptidoglycan pentaglycine interpeptide chain needs FemA and FemB for the incorporation of glycines Gly2-Gly3, and Gly4-Gly5, respectively. The lysostaphin immunity factor Lif was able to complement FemB, as could be shown by serine incorporation and by an increase in lysostaphin resistance in the wild-type as well as in a femB mutant. However, Lif could not substitute for FemA in femA or in femAB-null mutants. Methicillin resistance, which is dependent on functional FemA and FemB, was not complemented by Lif, suggesting that serine-substituted side chains are a lesser substrate for penicillin-binding protein PBP2' in methicillin resistance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acids / analysis
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / physiology*
  • Carrier Proteins*
  • Cell Wall / chemistry
  • Genetic Complementation Test
  • Glycine / analysis
  • Glycine / metabolism
  • Hexosyltransferases / metabolism
  • Lysostaphin
  • Methicillin Resistance
  • Multienzyme Complexes / metabolism
  • Muramoylpentapeptide Carboxypeptidase*
  • Mutation
  • Penicillin-Binding Proteins
  • Peptidoglycan / biosynthesis
  • Peptidoglycan / chemistry*
  • Peptidyl Transferases / metabolism
  • Serine / analysis
  • Staphylococcus aureus / metabolism*

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Carrier Proteins
  • FemA protein, Bacteria
  • FemB protein, Staphylococcus epidermidis
  • Multienzyme Complexes
  • Penicillin-Binding Proteins
  • Peptidoglycan
  • Serine
  • Peptidyl Transferases
  • Hexosyltransferases
  • Muramoylpentapeptide Carboxypeptidase
  • Lysostaphin
  • Glycine