Coordinated and Distinct Roles of Peptidoglycan Carboxypeptidases DacC and DacA in Cell Growth and Shape Maintenance under Stress Conditions
Umji Choi, Si Hyoung Park, Han Byeol Lee, Ji Eun Son, Chang‐Ro Lee
Abstract
Most bacteria have a peptidoglycan architecture for cell shape maintenance and protection against osmotic challenges. Peptidoglycan dd-carboxypeptidases control the amount of pentapeptide substrates, which are used in the formation of 4-3 cross-links by the peptidoglycan synthetic dd-transpeptidases, penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs). Seven dd-carboxypeptidases exist in Escherichia coli, but the physiological significance of their redundancy and their roles in peptidoglycan synthesis are poorly understood. Here, we showed that DacC is an alkaline dd-carboxypeptidase for which both protein stability and enzyme activity are significantly enhanced at high pH. Strikingly, dd-carboxypeptidases DacC and DacA physically interacted with PBPs, and these interactions were necessary for cell shape maintenance as well as growth under alkaline and salt stresses. Thus, cooperation between dd-carboxypeptidases and PBPs may allow E. coli to overcome various stresses and to maintain cell shape.