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. 1993 Mar;175(6):1841–1843. doi: 10.1128/jb.175.6.1841-1843.1993

The final step of peptidoglycan subunit assembly in Escherichia coli occurs in the cytoplasm.

K Bupp 1, J van Heijenoort 1
PMCID: PMC203988  PMID: 8449890

Abstract

The murG gene of Escherichia coli encodes the N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase responsible for the final step in the formation of the lipid-linked disaccharide-pentapeptide subunit of peptidoglycan. Using trypsin to probe maxicell spheroplasts, we show that this enzyme is peripherally associated with the inner face of the cytoplasmic membrane. Therefore, the peptidoglycan subunit is completely assembled before it traverses the cytoplasmic membrane.

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Selected References

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