Table Of ContentBACTERIAL CELL WALL
New Comprehensive Biochemistry
Volume 27
General Editors
A. NEUBERGER
London
L.L.M. van DEENEN
Urrechr
ELSEVIER
Amsterdam - London - New York - Tokyo
Bacterial Cell Wall
Editors
J.-M. GHUYSEN
Centre d’lngknierie des Protbines, Universitk de Likge, Institut de Chimie, B6,
B-4000 Sart Tilman (Likge I), Belgium
R. HAKENBECK
Mar-Planck Institut fur Molekulare Genetik, Ihnestrasse 73,
D- I4 I95 Berlin 33, Germany
1994
ELSEVIER
Amsterdam - London - New York - Tokyo
Elsevier Science B.V.
P.O. Box 21 1
1000 AE Amsterdam
The Netherlands
ISBN 0 444 88094-1 (volume)
ISSN 0 444 80303-3 (series)
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Bacterial cell wall /editors, J.-M. Ghuysen, R. Hakenbeck.
cm. -- (New comprehensive biochemistry : v. 27)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-444-88094-1 (acid-free paper)
I . Bacterial cell walls. 2. Peptidoglycans. 3. Bacterial proteins. 1. Ghuysen, J.M.
11. Hakenbeck. R.
(Regine). 1948-. 111. Series.
QD415.N48 vol. 27
[QR77.3]
[589.9’08751
p.
574.19’2 s--dc20
93-4 I268
CIP
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V
Preface
Studies of the bacterial cell wall emerged as a new field of research in the early 1950s
and, literally, took off primarily thanks to the pioneering work of Milton R.J. Salton.
Since then, it has flourished in a multitude of directions and has reached the stage where
the preparation of a monograph as a ‘one-man show’ is no longer possible. This volume
is the result of a joint venture involving numerous contributors. Following a historic pers-
pective of the field (Chapter l), it has been conceived as an attempt to single out topics of
great conceptual importance related to those groups of macromolecules which are loca-
lized outside the permeability barrier, i.e. the cytoplasmic membrane, of the Eubacteria,
with special emphasis on the genetic, molecular and, when possible, atomic levels.
Peptidoglycan, the basic matrix of the bacterial wall, is present in all vegetative cells,
except the L-forms and Mycoplasma, and is an essential constituent of bacterial endo-
spores (Chapters 2-8). Teichoic and teichuronic acids, lipoteichoic acids, lipoglycans,
neutral complex polysaccharides and several specialized proteins are frequently unique
wall-associated components of Gram-positive bacteria (Chapters 9-1 1). Lipopoly-
saccharides, lipoproteins and a multitude of proteins including porins, form the outer
membrane of the Gram-negative bacteria (Chapters 12-20). The periplasm is a trans-
shipment region localized between the plasma membrane and the outer membrane
(Chapter 21).
Bacterial cells know how to adapt to changing environmental conditions and, for that
purpose, they have evolved signal transduction pathways. These pathways generally are
initiated by ‘receptors’ consisting of a sensory domain which is responsible for signal
reception on the outer face of the plasma membrane and a cytosolic domain which is re-
sponsible for the generation of an intracellular signal. Examples of adaptative responses
of this kind are discussed in Chapters 22-24.
Acquired resistance to known antibiotics by an increasing number of bacterial species
has become such an utterly serious concern that, in terms of effective antibacterial
chemotherapy, the 1990s are beginning to look like the ‘pre-antibiotic era’. This situation
is the grim harvest of ignorance and complacency. It demands urgent attention. Chapters
25-27 deal with the underlying mechanisms of bacterial resistance to the main chemo-
therapeutically useful ‘cell wall’ antibiotics, the 8-lactams and the glycopeptides.
With the rapid growth of scientific literature in the field, it was impossible to condense
all the accumulated knowledge in a book of the size of the present volume. There are
gaps. In particular, no chapter is devoted to the walls of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and
M. leprue which are plagues that massively affect much of the Third World. Inevitably
also, the book will contain ‘out of date’ sections by the time it is published. In spite of
these imperfections, we hope that it provides an integrated collection of contributions
forming a fundamental reference for researchers and of general use to teachers and ad-
vanced students in the life sciences. We also hope that it can provide useful guidelines
VI
for those wishing to make an informed decision about whether research on the bacterial
cell wall is worth funding in these times.
Research often begins with a question. This book witnesses the multifaceted pursuits
of scientists engaged in bacterial cell wall research with many of the why’s, how’s and
wherefore’s that they strive, with increasing success, to answer. We thank them for their
valuable contributions. We also express our gratitude to Professor Laurens L.M. van
Deenen, general co-editor of the New Comprehensive Biochemistry series who initiated
this venture, to Mrs Amanda Shipperbottom and Mrs Annette Leeuwendal, publishing
editors, and Mr. Dirk de Heer, desk editor, of Elsevier Science B.V., who produced the
book.
Regine Hakenbeck
Berlin
Jean-Marie Ghuysen
Libge
October 1993.
List of contributors
J.A. Ayala, 73
Centro de Biologia Molecular, CSIC, Universidad Autbnoma de Madrid, Facultad de
Ciencias, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
E. Bartowsky, 485
Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University, Medical School, Box
8230, 660 S. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, MO 631 10, USA
M.E. Bayer, 447
Fox Chase Cancer Center, Institute for Cancer Research, 7701 Burholme Avenue,
Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
R. Benz, 397
Lehrstuhl fur Biotechnologie, Biozentrum der Universitat Wurzburg, Am Hubland, D-
9 70 74 Wurzburg, Germany
C. Bernegger-Egli, 263
Department of Microbiology, University of British Columbia, 300 - 61 74 University
Blvd., Vancouver, B.C., V6T 123, Canada
V . Braun, 3 19
Mikrobiologie 11, Universitat Tubingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 28, 0-72076 Tubingen,
Germany
C.E. Buchanan, 167
Department of Biological Sciences, Southern Methodist Universiw, Dallas, TX 752 75
0376, USA
S.W. Cowan, 353
Department of Structural Biology, Biocentre, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 70,
CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
G. Dive, 103
Centre d'lnge'nierie des Prote'ines, Universite' de Liige, Institut de Chimie, B6, B-4000
Sart Tilman (Liige I), Belgium
J . Erickson, 485
Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University, Medical School, Box
8230, 660 S. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, MO 631 10, USA
W . Fischer, 199
Institut fur Biochemie der Medizinischen Fakultat, Universitat Erlangen-Nurnberg,
Fahrstrasse 17, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany
T. Garrido, 73
Centro de Investigaciones Biolbgicas, CSIC, C/ Velhquez, 144, 28006 Madrid, Spain
J.-M. Ghuysen, 103, 505
Centre d'lnge'nierie des Prote'ines, Universitk de Lizge, Institut de Chimie, B6, B-4000
Sart Tilman (Liige I), Belgium
VIII
R. Hakenbeck, 535
Max-Planck Institut fur Molekulare Genetik, Ihnestrasse 73, 0-14195 Berlin 33,
Germany
R.E.W. Hancock, 263
Department of Microbiology, University of British Columbia, 300 - 61 74 University
Blvd., Vancouver, B.C., V6T 123, Canada
K. Hardt, 505
Centre d’lngknierie des Protkines, Universitk de Likge, Institut de Chimie, B6, B-4000
Sart Tilman (Likge I), Belgium
J. van Heijenoort, 39
Unitk de Recherche Associde 1131 du CNRS, Biochimie Molkculaire et Cellulaire,
Universitk Paris-Sud, Bdt. 432, 91405 Orsay, France
U. Henning, 381
Max-Planck-Institut fur Biologie, Corrensstrasse 38, 0-72076 Tubingen, Germany
A.O. Henriques, 167
Centro de Tecnologia Quimica e Biolbgica, Apartado 127, 2780 Oeiras, Portugal
J.-V. HBltje, 13 1
Max-Planck Institut fur Entwicklungsbiologie, Spemannstrasse 35, 0-72076 Tubingen,
Germany
C. Hughes, 425
Cambridge University Department of Pathology, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2
IQP, UK
C. Jacobs, 485
Centre d’hge‘nierie des Protkines, Universitk de LiGge, Institut de Chimie, B6, B-4000
Sart-Tilman (Li2ge I), Belgium
D. Jeanteur, 363
European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Postfach 10.2209, Meyerhojitrasse 1, D-
69012 Heidelberg, Germany
B. Joris, 505
Centre d’lngknierie des Protkines, Universitk de Likge, Institut de Chimie, B6, B-4000
Sart Tilman (Li2ge l), Belgium
D. Karamata, 187
Institut de ge‘ne‘tique et de biologie microbiennes, Rue Cksar-Roux 19, CH-1005
Lausanne, Switzerland
D.N. Karunaratne, 263
Department of Microbiology, University of British Columbia, 300 - 61 74 University
Blvd., Vancouver, B.C., V6T 123, Canada
M.A. Kehoe, 217
Department of Microbiology, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Medical School,
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK
R. Koebnik, 381
Max-Planck-Institut fur Biologie, Corrensstrasse 38, D- 72076 Tubingen, Germany
V. Koronakis, 425
Cambridge University Department of Pathology, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2
IQP, UK
1x
H. Labischinski, 23
Bqver AG, Institut fur Chemotherapie, 0-42096 Wuppertal, Germany
J.H. Lakey, 363
European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Postfach 10.2209, Meyerhojitrasse 1, D-
69012 Heidelberg, Germany
F. Lindberg, 485
Department of Medicine, Washington University, Medical School, Box 8230, 660 S.
Euclid Ave., St. Louis, MO 631 10, USA
S. Lindquist, 485
Department of Microbiology, UmeB University, UmeB, Sweden
H. Maidhof, 23
Robert Koch-Institute of the Federal Health Oflce, Nordufr 20, 0-13353 Berlin 65,
Germany
M. Matsuhashi, 55
Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokai University, School of High
Technology for Human Welfare, Nishino 31 7, Numazu-shi, Shizuoka-ken, 410-03 Japan
H. Nikaido, 547
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, 229 Stanley Hall,
Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
S. Normark, 485
Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University, Medical School, Box
8230, 660 S. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, MO 631 10, USA
F. Pattus, 363
European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Postfach 10.2209, Meyerhojitrasse I , D-
69012 Heidelberg, Germany
M.A. de Pedro, 73
Centro de Biologia Molecular, CSIC, Universidad Autbnoma de Madrid, Facultad de
Ciencias, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
P.J. Piggot, 167
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Temple University School of Medicine,
Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
H.M. Pooley, 187
Institut de gknktique et de biologie microbiennes, Rue Char-Roux 19, CH-1005
Lausanne, Switzerland
P. Reeves, 28 1
Microbiology Department, Bldg G08, University of Sydney, Australia NSW 2006
M.R.J. Salton, 1
Department of Microbiology, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
T. Schirmer, 353
Department of Structural Biology, Biocentre, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 70,
CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
G.E.
Schulz, 343
Institut fur Organische Chemie und Biochemie der Albert-Ludwigs-Universitdt,
Albertstrasse 21, 0-79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
