E. Goodell
Jul 1, 1985
Citations
14
Influential Citations
248
Citations
Quality indicators
Journal
Journal of Bacteriology
Abstract
The tripeptide (L-Ala-D-Glu-meso-diaminopimelic acid [A2pm]), tetrapeptide (L-Ala-D-Glu-A2pm-D-Ala), and dipeptide (A2pm-D-Ala) which are shed by Escherichia coli from the murein sacculus were found to be reused by the cells to synthesize murein. The tripeptide was used directly, without degradation, to form UDP-N-acetylmuramyl-L-Ala-D-Glu-A2pm. The tetrapeptide lost its carboxy-terminal D-Ala, apparently in the periplasm, before being used. The dipeptide was degraded to D-Ala and A2pm before uptake.