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Comment
. 2021 Aug;17(8):841-843.
doi: 10.1038/s41589-021-00818-2.

Undermodification cues division

Malcolm E Winkler  1
Affiliations
Comment

Undermodification cues division

Malcolm E Winkler. Nat Chem Biol. 2021 Aug.

Abstract

Extracellular peptidoglycan-linked polysaccharide modifications mediate cell morphology, division, and autolysis in some Gram-positive bacterial pathogens. A new study shows that the degree and location of a specific modification controls peptidoglycan hydrolysis and placement of the axis of cell division.

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Figures

Fig. 1 ∣
Fig. 1 ∣. Graphical summary of the modifications of extracellular peptidoglycan-linked polyrhamnose carbohydrate (SCC) in wild-type (left) and mutant (right) cells of S. mutans.
In wild-type S. mutans (left), fully modified (mature) SCC covers most of the cell surface, except at equators of dividing cells, locations of MapZ rings, and cell poles, which contain undermodified, GroP (glycerol phosphate)-deficient (immature) SCC. In contrast, ΔsccN ΔsccP mutants lack the glucose and GroP modifications and are covered by fully unmodified SCC, whereas the SCC of ΔsccH mutants is fully deficient in GroP (right). Gray triangle, rhamnose; blue circle, glucose; blue square, N-acetylglucosamine; P, phosphate group; orange circle, glycerol; parallel lines with crosslinks, peptidoglycan; orange phospholipid bilayer, cell membrane.
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