FIG 1.

The ΔpbpA mutant is defective at peptidoglycan synthesis. Exponentially growing E. faecalis cells were pulse-labeled with [¹⁴C] GlcNAc to monitor incorporation into SDS-insoluble peptidoglycan. For wild-type cells, an aliquot was also treated with fosfomycin to inhibit peptidoglycan synthesis. At intervals, aliquots were treated with SDS, and insoluble peptidoglycan was subjected to scintillation counting. Incorporated radioactivity (CPM) was normalized to total biomass (OD₆₀₀) and expressed as CPM/(OD₆₀₀ × 10⁴). Data represent the mean ± standard error from two independent experiments. Strains were wild-type, OG1; ΔpbpA, JL632; and Δpbp5, JL339.