Project Details
Projekt
Functional Organization of Cell Wall Biosynthesis Reactions in Staphylococci
Applicant
Professor Dr. Hans-Georg Sahl, since 12/2010
Subject Area
Parasitology and Biology of Tropical Infectious Disease Pathogens
Term
from 2008 to 2015
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 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 Programme
Research Units
Ehemalige Antragstellerin
Dr. Imke Wiedemann, until 11/2010
