Peptidoglycan biosynthesis and the regulatory mechanism

Abstract:

Peptidoglycan is the most important component of bacterial cell wall, as it is crucial for the maintenance of cell morphology, cell size and cell survival. Meanwhile, peptidoglycan is the target of many commonly used antibiotics. The synthesis and hydrolysis of peptidoglycan occur simultaneously in bacteria under normal growth conditions. For the sake of cell wall integrity, the biosynthesis of peptidoglycan needs to be spatiotemporally controlled. Peptidoglycan biosynthesis and the regulatory mechanism are among the most fundamental research topics in microbiology. In recent years, researchers around the world have made remarkable progress in this field. On this basis, this review summarizes the de novo synthesis of peptidoglycan and peptidoglycan recycling pathway, and emphasizes the research advances in peptidoglycan synthases (key enzymes involved in peptidoglycan synthesis) and their regulatory mechanisms. Finally, this review puts forward the questions to be addressed in the future.