what are features of peptidoglycan biosynthesis?
- In cocci, cell walls only grow in
opposite directions outward from the
FtsZ ring - Preexisting peptidoglycan needs to be
severed to allow newly synthesized
peptidoglycan to form - All bacterial cells must synthesize new
peptidoglycan and export it outside
the cytoplasmic membrane
what molecule is responsible for carrying peptidoglycan precursors through the cytoplasmic membrane?
bactoprenol (highly hydrophobic)
what is lipid II?
what does it consist of?
the entire molecule including bactoprenol bound to the peptidoglycan precursor
consists of N-acetylglucosamine (G), N-acetylmuramic acid (M), and a
pentapeptide
describe the steps of biofilm formation
- Random collision leads to initial
attachment, facilitated by structures
like flagella or by cell surface proteins - Attachment causes expression of
biofilm-specific genes encoding
proteins for intercellular
communication and extracellular
polysaccharides - Cyclic di-GMP is used as an intracellular
signaling molecule. Accumulation
triggers a transition from planktonic to
biofilm growth
how are GTP used in biofilm formation and what are the effects of it?
- they get converted into c-di-GMP by proteins with the GCDEF domain
- phosphodiesterases degarde c-di-GMP
effects: modifications to extracellular polysaccharides and proteins, reduced motility and virulence
what is Pseudomonas aeruginosa?
an oppurtunistic pathogen that forms a tenacious biofilm containing polysaccharides that increase pathogenicity and prevent antibiotic prevention
