Chemical Biology Tools for Examining the Bacterial Cell Wall. Issue 8 (20th August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brown, Ashley R.; Gordon, Rebecca A.; Hyland, Stephen N.; Siegrist, M. Sloan; Grimes, Catherine L.
• Is Part Of: Cell chemical biology. Volume 27:Issue 8(2020)
• Page Start: 1052
• Page End: 1062
• Publication Date: 2020-08-20
• Subjects: bacterial cell wall -- bacterial cell envelope -- antibiotics -- biochemical probes -- photocrosslinking -- radiolabeling -- peptidoglycan biosynthesis -- metabolic engineering; Biochemistry -- Periodicals; 572.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2020.07.024
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2451-9456

Abstract

Summary: Bacteria surround themselves with cell walls to maintain cell rigidity and protect against environmental insults. Here we review chemical and biochemical techniques employed to study bacterial cell wall biogenesis. Recent advances including the ability to isolate critical intermediates, metabolic approaches for probe incorporation, and isotopic labeling techniques have provided critical insight into the biochemistry of cell walls. Fundamental manuscripts that have used these techniques to discover cell wall-interacting proteins, flippases, and cell wall stoichiometry are discussed in detail. The review highlights that these powerful methods and techniques have exciting potential to identify and characterize new targets for antibiotic development. Graphical Abstract: Abstract : Bacteria surround themselves with jackets or cell walls to protect against environmental insults. In this issue of Cell Chemical Biology, Brown et al. review chemical and biochemical techniques employed to study bacterial cell wall biogenesis for the discovery of new antimicrobial targets.