FIG 2 .

Loss-of-function mutations in ECA biosynthesis suppress ΔyhdP. Screening for suppressors of ΔyhdP vancomycin and SDS EDTA sensitivity led to the isolated seven suppressor mutations. (A) The locations of the suppressing mutations, all of which map to the wec operon, are shown. IS, native insertion sequence. (B) Efficiency of plating assays (EOPs) were performed by plating serial dilutions of the indicated culture on LB plates with the indicated additions to gauge to what degree the suppressor mutants suppressed the ΔyhdP strain's phenotypes. Complete suppression of vancomycin sensitivity and almost complete suppression of SDS EDTA sensitivity were observed. (C) EOPs were performed to determine whether suppression of vancomycin and SDS EDTA sensitivity by loss-of-function mutations in the wec operon was universal. Deletion of wecA suppressed the ΔyhdP strain but not deletion of bamE, suggesting the suppression is specific to yhdP. EOP images are representative of three independent experiments.