The linkage of sugar phosphate polymer to peptidoglycan in walls of Micrococcus sp. 2102

Biochem J. 1978 Feb 1;169(2):329-36. doi: 10.1042/bj1690329.

Abstract

1. Protein-free walls of Micrococcus sp. 2102 contain peptidoglycan, poly-(N-acetylglucosamine 1-phosphate) and small amounts of glycerol phosphate. 2. After destruction of the poly-(N-acetylglucosamine 1-phosphate) with periodate, the glycerol phosphate remains attached to the wall, but can be removed by controlled alkaline hydrolysis. The homogeneous product comprises a chain of three glycerol phosphates and an additional phosphate residue. 3. The poly-(N-acetylglucosamine 1-phosphate) is attached through its terminal phosphate to one end of the tri(glycerol phosphate). 4. The other end of the glycerol phosphate trimer is attached through its terminal phosphate to the 3-or 4-position of an N-acetylglucosamine. It is concluded that the sequence of residues in the sugar 1-phosphate polymer-peptidoglycan complex is: (N-acetylglucosamine 1-phosphate)24-(glycerol phosphate)3-N-acetylglucosamine 1-phosphate-muramic acid (in peptidoglycan). Thus in this organism the phosphorylated wall polymer is attached to the peptidoglycan of the wall through a linkage unit comprising a chain of three glycerol phosphate residues and an N-acetylglucosamine 1-phosphate, similar to or identical with the linkage unit in Staphylococcus aureus H.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Wall / metabolism
  • Chemical Phenomena
  • Chemistry
  • Glycerophosphates / isolation & purification
  • Hydrolysis
  • Micrococcus / metabolism*
  • Peptidoglycan / metabolism*
  • Polymers / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • Sugar Phosphates / metabolism*

Substances

  • Glycerophosphates
  • Peptidoglycan
  • Polymers
  • Sugar Phosphates