Journal
JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY
Volume 186, Issue 4, Pages 1136-1146Publisher
AMER SOC MICROBIOLOGY
DOI: 10.1128/JB.186.4.1136-1146.2004
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- NIGMS NIH HHS [R01 GM047446, GM-47446] Funding Source: Medline
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Bacillus subtilis contains seven extracytoplasmic-function or factors that activate partially overlapping regulons. We here identify four additional members of the alpha(X) regulon, pbpX (penicillin-binding protein), ywnJ, the dlt operon (D-alanylation of teichoic acids), and the pss ybfM psd operon (phosphatidylethanolamine biosynthesis). Modification of teichoic acids by esterification with D-alanine and incorporation of phosphatidylethanolamine into the cell membrane have a common consequence: in both cases positively charged amino groups are introduced into the cell envelope. The resulting reduction in the net negative charge of the cell envelope has been previously implicated as a resistance mechanism specific for cationic antimicrobial peptides. Consistent with this notion, we find that both sigX and dltA mutants are more sensitive to nisin than wild-type cells. We conclude that activation of the alpha(X) regulon serves to alter cell surface properties to provide protection against antimicrobial peptides.
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