Skip to main content
Journal of Bacteriology logoLink to Journal of Bacteriology
. 1978 Nov;136(2):723–729. doi: 10.1128/jb.136.2.723-729.1978

Arrangement of glycan chains in the sacculus of Escherichia coli.

R W Verwer, N Nanninga, W Keck, U Schwarz
PMCID: PMC218599  PMID: 361720

Abstract

A novel of Escherichia coli endopeptidase was used for a selective partial hydrolysis of the peptide bridges which interlink the glycan chains in E. coli sacculi. The loosening of the murein network revealed, in the electron microscope, a preferential orientation of the glycan chains, more or less perpendicular to the length axis of the cell. Control incubations with E. coli transglycosylase or egg-white lysozyme did not leave ordered structures behind.

Full text

PDF
723

Images in this article

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Braun V., Gnirke H., Henning U., Rehn K. Model for the structure of the shape-maintaining layer of the Escherichia coli cell envelope. J Bacteriol. 1973 Jun;114(3):1264–1270. doi: 10.1128/jb.114.3.1264-1270.1973. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Burge R. E., Fowler A. G., Reaveley D. A. Structure of the peptidogylcan of bacterial cell walls. I. J Mol Biol. 1977 Dec 25;117(4):927–953. doi: 10.1016/s0022-2836(77)80006-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Formanek H., Formanek S., Wawra H. A three-dimensional atomic model of the murein layer of bacteria. Eur J Biochem. 1974 Jul 15;46(2):279–294. doi: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1974.tb03620.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Ghuysen J. M. Use of bacteriolytic enzymes in determination of wall structure and their role in cell metabolism. Bacteriol Rev. 1968 Dec;32(4 Pt 2):425–464. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Hartmann R., Höltje J. V., Schwarz U. Targets of penicillin action in Escherichia coli. Nature. 1972 Feb 25;235(5339):426–429. doi: 10.1038/235426a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Höltje J. V., Mirelman D., Sharon N., Schwarz U. Novel type of murein transglycosylase in Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol. 1975 Dec;124(3):1067–1076. doi: 10.1128/jb.124.3.1067-1076.1975. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Kelemen M. V., Rogers H. J. Three-dimensional molecular models of bacterial cell wall mucopeptides (peptidoglycans). Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1971 May;68(5):992–996. doi: 10.1073/pnas.68.5.992. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Marr A. G., Harvey R. J., Trentini W. C. Growth and division of Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol. 1966 Jun;91(6):2388–2389. doi: 10.1128/jb.91.6.2388-2389.1966. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. PRIMOSIGH J., PELZER H., MAASS D., WEIDEL W. Chemical characterization of mucopeptides released from the E. coli B cell wall by enzymic action. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1961 Jan 1;46:68–80. doi: 10.1016/0006-3002(61)90647-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Preusser H. J. Strukturveränderungen am "Murein-Sacculus" von Spirillum serpens nach Einwirkung von Uranylacetat. Arch Mikrobiol. 1969 Oct;68(2):150–164. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Schwarz U., Asmus A., Frank H. Autolytic enzymes and cell division of Escherichia coli. J Mol Biol. 1969 May 14;41(3):419–429. doi: 10.1016/0022-2836(69)90285-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. WEIDEL W., FRANK H., MARTIN H. H. The rigid layer of the cell wall of Escherichia coli strain B. J Gen Microbiol. 1960 Feb;22:158–166. doi: 10.1099/00221287-22-1-158. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. WEIDEL W., PELZER H. BAGSHAPED MACROMOLECULES--A NEW OUTLOOK ON BACTERIAL CELL WALLS. Adv Enzymol Relat Areas Mol Biol. 1964;26:193–232. doi: 10.1002/9780470122716.ch5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Bacteriology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES