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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Alexander Egan, Dr Jacob BiboyORCiD, Dr Jad Sassine, Dr Alexandra Solovyova, Professor Waldemar Vollmer
This is the final published version of an article that has been published in its final definitive form by National Academy of Sciences, 2014.
For re-use rights please refer to the publisher's terms and conditions.
Bacteria surround their cytoplasmic membrane with an essential, stress-bearing peptidoglycan (PG) layer. Growing and dividing cells expand their PG layer by using membrane-anchored PG synthases, which are guided by dynamic cytoskeletal elements. In Escherichia coli, growth of the mainly single-layered PG is also regulated by outer membrane-anchored lipoproteins. The lipoprotein LpoB is required for the activation of penicillin-binding protein (PBP) 1B, which is a major, bifunctional PG synthase with glycan chain polymerizing (glycosyltransferase) and peptide cross-linking (transpeptidase) activities. Here, we report the structure of LpoB, determined by NMR spectroscopy, showing an N-terminal, 54-aa-long flexible stretch followed by a globular domain with similarity to the N-terminal domain of the prevalent periplasmic protein TolB. We have identified the interaction interface between the globular domain of LpoB and the noncatalytic UvrB domain 2 homolog domain of PBP1B and modeled the complex. Amino acid exchanges within this interface weaken the PBP1B-LpoB interaction, decrease the PBP1B stimulation in vitro, and impair its function in vivo. On the contrary, the N-terminal flexible stretch of LpoB is required to stimulate PBP1B in vivo, but is dispensable in vitro. This supports a model in which LpoB spans the periplasm to interact with PBP1B and stimulate PG synthesis.
Author(s): Egan AJF, Jean NL, Koumoutsi A, Bougault CM, Biboy J, Sassine J, Solovyova AS, Breukink E, Typas A, Vollmer W, Simorre JP
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Year: 2014
Volume: 111
Issue: 22
Pages: 8197-8202
Print publication date: 03/06/2014
Online publication date: 12/05/2014
Acceptance date: 14/04/2014
Date deposited: 16/04/2015
ISSN (print): 0027-8424
ISSN (electronic): 1091-6490
Publisher: National Academy of Sciences
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1400376111
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1400376111
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