Abstract
The surface area per repeating murein unit (i.e. per molecule of diaminopimelate) has been determined for the cell envelopes of the Escherichia coli strains K-12 and W. This area was constantly found to be 1.3 nm2. Using this value and other previously determined properties of E. coli murein, a three-dimensional model of murein is proposed. The model specifies a monomolecular layer in which disaccharide units are each 1.03 nm long, and the polysaccharide chains, all parallel, are 1.25 nm apart. The cross-linking peptide side-chains have the same atomic coordinates and are arranged above or below the polysaccharide chains.
Full text
PDF






Images in this article
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Braun V., Bosch V. Repetitive sequences in the murein-lipoprotein of the cell wall of Escherichia coli. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1972 Apr;69(4):970–974. doi: 10.1073/pnas.69.4.970. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Braun V., Rehn K. Chemical characterization, spatial distribution and function of a lipoprotein (murein-lipoprotein) of the E. coli cell wall. The specific effect of trypsin on the membrane structure. Eur J Biochem. 1969 Oct;10(3):426–438. doi: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1969.tb00707.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- CARLSTROM D. The polysaccharide chain of chitin. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1962 May 21;59:361–364. doi: 10.1016/0006-3002(62)90185-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- CASPAR D. L., KLUG A. Physical principles in the construction of regular viruses. Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol. 1962;27:1–24. doi: 10.1101/sqb.1962.027.001.005. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Courtright J. B., Henning U. Malate dehydrogenase mutants in Escherichia coli K-12. J Bacteriol. 1970 Jun;102(3):722–728. doi: 10.1128/jb.102.3.722-728.1970. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- DAVIS B. D. Biosynthetic interrelations of lysine, diaminopimelic acid, and threonine in mutants of Escherichia coli. Nature. 1952 Mar 29;169(4300):534–536. doi: 10.1038/169534a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- De Petris S. Ultrastructure of the cell wall of Escherichia coli and chemical nature of its constituent layers. J Ultrastruct Res. 1967 Jul;19(1):45–83. doi: 10.1016/s0022-5320(67)80059-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- HIRS C. H. The oxidation of ribonuclease with performic acid. J Biol Chem. 1956 Apr;219(2):611–621. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- HOARE D. S., WORK E. The stereoisomers of alpha epsilon-diaminopimelic acid. II. Their distribution in the bacterial order Actinomycetales and in certain Eubacteriales. Biochem J. 1957 Mar;65(3):441–447. doi: 10.1042/bj0650441. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- HOUWINK A. L. A macromolecular mono-layer in the cell wall of Spirillum spec. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1953 Mar;10(3):360–366. doi: 10.1016/0006-3002(53)90266-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 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]
- Henning U., Rehn K., Braun V., Höhn B. Cell envelope and shape of Escherichia coli K12. Properties of a temperature-sensitive rod mutant. Eur J Biochem. 1972 Apr 24;26(4):570–586. doi: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1972.tb01800.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Higgins M. L., Shockman G. D. Procaryotic cell division with respect to wall and membranes. CRC Crit Rev Microbiol. 1971 May;1(1):29–72. doi: 10.3109/10408417109104477. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- JEANLOZ R. W., SHARON N., FLOWERS H. M. THE CHEMICAL STRUCTURE OF A DISACCHARIDE ISOLATED FROM MICROCOCCUS LYSODEIKTICUS CELL WALL. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1963 Sep 10;13:20–25. doi: 10.1016/0006-291x(63)90155-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- KELLENBERGER E., ARBER W. Electron microscopical studies of phage multiplication. I. A method for quantitative analysis of particle suspensions. Virology. 1957 Apr;3(2):245–255. doi: 10.1016/0042-6822(57)90091-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- KELLENBERGER E., RYTER A. Cell wall and cytoplasmic membrane of Escherichia coli. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1958 May 25;4(3):323–326. doi: 10.1083/jcb.4.3.323. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 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]
- MURRAY R. G., STEED P., ELSON H. E. THE LOCATION OF THE MUCOPEPTIDE IN SECTIONS OF THE CELL WALL OF ESCHERICHIA COLI AND OTHER GRAM-NEGATIVE BACTERIA. Can J Microbiol. 1965 Jun;11:547–560. doi: 10.1139/m65-072. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Nermut M. V., Murray R. G. Ultrastructure of the cell wall of Bacillus polymyxa. J Bacteriol. 1967 Jun;93(6):1949–1965. doi: 10.1128/jb.93.6.1949-1965.1967. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 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]
- SALTON M. R. J., HORNE R. W. Studies of the bacterial cell wall. II. Methods of preparation and some properties of cell walls. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1951 Jul;7(2):177–197. doi: 10.1016/0006-3002(51)90017-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Schwarz U., Leutgeb W. Morphogenetic aspects of murein structure and biosynthesis. J Bacteriol. 1971 May;106(2):588–595. doi: 10.1128/jb.106.2.588-595.1971. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 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]
- 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]
- White D., Dworkin M., Tipper D. J. Peptidoglycan of Myxococcus xanthus: structure and relation to morphogenesis. J Bacteriol. 1968 Jun;95(6):2186–2197. doi: 10.1128/jb.95.6.2186-2197.1968. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]