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Semi-Quantitative Analysis of Peptidoglycan by Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry and Bioinformatics
09:09

Semi-Quantitative Analysis of Peptidoglycan by Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry and Bioinformatics

Published on: October 13, 2020

Changes in peptidoglycan structure and metabolism during differentiation of Proteus mirabilis into swarmer cells

Hendrik Strating1, Chris Vandenende, Anthony J Clarke

  • 1Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.

Canadian Journal of Microbiology
|October 12, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Bacterial cell wall O-acetylation decreases during Proteus mirabilis differentiation. This shift correlates with changes in peptidoglycan structure and autolysin activity, impacting cell wall remodeling.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Bacterial Cell Wall Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Peptidoglycan O-acetylation is a key modification in Gram-negative bacteria.
  • Cell differentiation in Proteus mirabilis involves significant changes in cell envelope composition.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the changes in peptidoglycan O-acetylation during Proteus mirabilis differentiation.
  • To correlate these changes with alterations in muropeptide composition and autolysin activity.

Main Methods:

  • Quantitative analysis of peptidoglycan O-acetylation levels.
  • Analysis of muropeptide composition using SDS-PAGE.
  • Zymography to assess autolysin activity on modified peptidoglycan substrates.

Main Results:

  • O-acetylation decreased from 51% to 29% during differentiation from vegetative to swarmer cells.
  • Muropeptide composition shifted, with increased anhydromuropeptides and decreased Lys-Lys-muropeptides.
  • Autolysin activity changed, with decreased activity against O-acetylated peptidoglycan and increased activity against non-O-acetylated peptidoglycan.

Conclusions:

  • Cell differentiation in P. mirabilis is associated with a significant reduction in peptidoglycan O-acetylation.
  • This modification impacts peptidoglycan structure and the activity of cell wall-degrading enzymes (autolysins).
  • The observed changes suggest a coordinated remodeling of the bacterial cell wall during differentiation.

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