Functional Organization of Cell Wall Biosynthesis Reactions in Staphylococci

• Antragsteller: Professor Dr. Hans-Georg Sahl, seit 12/2010
• Fachliche Zuordnung: Parasitologie und Biologie der Erreger tropischer Infektionskrankheiten
• Förderung: Förderung von 2008 bis 2015
• Projektkennung: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 33421847

Cell wall biosynthesis is a vital process for almost all bacteria and has no counterpart in eukaryotic cells with respect to biosynthesis of the polymer. Although the synthesis pathway has been studied intensively on the level of the individual reactions, little is known about the dynamics and organisation of the peptidoglycan synthesizing machinery. In Staphylococcus aureus, the synthesis of the precursor core unit, its species specific modifications, the translocation of the precursor to the outside compartment and the assembly of the growing peptidoglycan network requires at least 15 different proteins, on both sides of the cytoplasmic membrane, which have to be functionally coordinated. In this project we want to analyse in detail how the peptidoglycan synthesising enzymes in staphylococci are orchestrated. A deeper insight into the biosynthetic processes on the molecular level will provide interesting new aspects on how cell wall inhibitors both, established drugs such as beta-lactams and experimental compounds exert their antibiotic activity and thus provide valuable information for the design of new antibiotics.

• DFG-Verfahren: Forschungsgruppen
• Teilprojekt zu: FOR 854: Post-genomische Strategien für neue antibiotische Wirkstoffe und Zielstrukturen
• Ehemalige Antragstellerin: Dr. Imke Wiedemann, bis 11/2010