The murein endopeptidase MepA regulated by MtrAB and MprAB participate in cell wall homeostasis

Feng Peng; Yu Zou; Xiuxia Liu; Yankun Yang; Jing Chen; Jianqi Nie; Danni Huang; Zhonghu Bai

doi:10.1016/j.resmic.2024.104188

The murein endopeptidase MepA regulated by MtrAB and MprAB participate in cell wall homeostasis

Res Microbiol. 2024 Jan 28:104188. doi: 10.1016/j.resmic.2024.104188. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Feng Peng¹, Yu Zou¹, Xiuxia Liu², Yankun Yang¹, Jing Chen³, Jianqi Nie³, Danni Huang³, Zhonghu Bai¹

Affiliations

¹ The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; National Engineering Research Center for Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Jiangsu Provincial Research Center for Bioactive Product Processing Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
² The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; National Engineering Research Center for Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Jiangsu Provincial Research Center for Bioactive Product Processing Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China. Electronic address: liuxiuxia@jiangnan.edu.cn.
³ The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; National Engineering Research Center for Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.

PMID: 38286394
DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2024.104188

Abstract

The complete genome of Corynebacterium glutamicum contain a gene encoding murein endopeptidase MepA which maintain cell wall homeostasis by regulating peptidoglycan biosynthesis. In this study, we investigate the physiological function, localization and regulator of MepA. The result shows that mepA overexpression lead to peptidoglycan degradation and the defects in cell division. MepA-mCherry was shown to localizes exclusively at the cell cell septum. In addition, mepA overexpression increased cell permeability and reduced the resistance of cells to isoniazid, an antibiotic used to treat Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Furthermore, transcription analysis showed that mepA affected cell division and membrane transport pathways, and was coordinately regulated by the two-component systems MtrAB and MprAB(CgtS/R2).

Keywords: C. glutamicum; Cell division; Cell shape; MepA; MprAB; MtrAB.