2020
A regulatory pathway that selectively up-regulates elongasome function in the absence of class A PBPs
Patel Y, Zhao H, Helmann J. A regulatory pathway that selectively up-regulates elongasome function in the absence of class A PBPs. ELife 2020, 9: e57902. PMID: 32897856, PMCID: PMC7478892, DOI: 10.7554/elife.57902.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPenicillin-binding proteinsAlternative sigma factor σClass A penicillin-binding proteinsSigma factor σSuppressor analysisMreB homologsPeptidoglycan assemblyCell elongationWall synthesisPeptidoglycan synthesisRegulatory pathwaysCell shapeTransglycosylase activityStress responseFunction mutationsFactor σAPBPsDependent upregulationRodAMreBHFtsWHomologCellsPeptidoglycanAutolysin
2018
Aspartate deficiency limits peptidoglycan synthesis and sensitizes cells to antibiotics targeting cell wall synthesis in Bacillus subtilis
Zhao H, Roistacher D, Helmann J. Aspartate deficiency limits peptidoglycan synthesis and sensitizes cells to antibiotics targeting cell wall synthesis in Bacillus subtilis. Molecular Microbiology 2018, 109: 826-844. PMID: 29995990, PMCID: PMC6185803, DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14078.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDifco sporulation mediumPeptidoglycan synthesisCentral metabolismCell envelope stress responseEnvelope stress responseCell wall synthesisCell lysisWall synthesisSensitizes cellsStress responseAlteration of metabolismUptake systemBacillus subtilisLater stepsAmino acid analysisDiaminopimelateLB mediumSporulation mediumAcid analysisPhysiological studiesSynthesis inhibitorCompetitive inhibitorMetabolismImportant targetCells
2017
Don’t let sleeping dogmas lie: new views of peptidoglycan synthesis and its regulation
Zhao H, Patel V, Helmann J, Dörr T. Don’t let sleeping dogmas lie: new views of peptidoglycan synthesis and its regulation. Molecular Microbiology 2017, 106: 847-860. PMID: 28975672, PMCID: PMC5720918, DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13853.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCell wall biogenesisCell wall synthesisWall biogenesisWall synthesisBacterial cell wall biogenesisCell wall synthesis processRod-shaped bacteriaBacterial cell wall synthesisSingle-molecule trackingPeptidoglycan synthesisCell wallMolecule trackingIntense research focusBiogenesisBacteriaCircumstantial evidencePowerful antibioticsFundamental questionsRegulationTechnical limitationsBiochemistryNew dataTemporal mappingSynthesisOld observations