Cell wall peptidoglycan is an essential interface between a bacterium and its surroundings. This dynamic structure accommodates growth and division while protecting against environmental insults. Because it is essential for viability and is composed of molecules that are not present in eukaryotic cells, the bacterial cell wall has been a fruitful target for antibiotic development. The peptidoglycan biopolymer consists of a glycan backbone and cross-linked peptides. The clinical success of cross-link-inhibiting beta-lactam antibiotics illustrates the essentiality of these linkages for cell wall integrity, but the presence of multiple, seemingly redundant transpeptidases in many bacterial species makes it challenging to determine cross-link function precisely. We recently developed a method for introducing synthetic crosslinks into the cell wall of live bacteria. The fluorescent “staples” specifically rescue the model organism <i>Escherichia coli </i>from broad-spectrum beta-lactams. Chemically-induced cross-linking complements genetic and small molecule perturbations as an independent means of investigating the role of cell wall connectivity in bacterial physiology.

Engineering the bacterial cell wall

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.