D-alanyl ester depletion of teichoic acids in Lactobacillus plantarum results in a major modification of lipoteichoic acid composition and cell wall perforations at the septum mediated by the Acm2 autolysin

Emmanuelle Palumbo, Marie Deghorain, Pier Sandro Cocconcelli, Michiel Kleerebezem, Armin Geyer, Thomas Hartung, Siegfried Morath, Pascal Hols

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48 Scopus citations

Abstract

The insertional inactivation of the dlt operon from Lactobacillus plantarum NCIMB8826 had a strong impact on lipoteichoic acid (LTA) composition, resulting in a major reduction in D-alanyl ester content. Unexpectedly, mutant LTA showed high levels of glucosylation and were threefold longer than wild-type LTA. The dlt mutation resulted in a reduced growth rate and increased cell lysis during the exponential and stationary growth phases. Microscopy analysis revealed increased cell length, damaged dividing cells, and perforations of the envelope in the septal region. The observed defects in the separation process, cell envelope perforation, and autolysis of the dlt mutant could be partially attributed to the L. plantarum Acm2 peptidoglycan hydrolase.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3709-3715
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of bacteriology
Volume188
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2006
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology

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