Elucidation of mechanism of teichoic acid decoration and its importance in high temperature adaptation

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K07716
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Applied microbiology
• Research Institution: Shinshu University
• Principal Investigator: Yamamoto Hiroki 信州大学, 学術研究院繊維学系, 准教授 (20262701)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 枯草菌 / 細胞壁 / 細胞壁テイコ酸 / リポテイコ酸

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this research, we have systematically demonstrated that subcellular localization of epitope-tagging proteins involved in the wall- and lipo-teichoic acid biosynthesis pathways in Bacillus subtilis. In the case of WTA synthesis, export, and attachment proteins, they were localized in patch-like patterns along the sidewall, being different from helical localization in a previous report regarding the GFP-fused proteins. In addition, LTA synthases and modification enzymes have localized not only at septum but also along the sidewall in the patch-like manner. Moreover, we have performed co-localization analyses for these proteins to observe distinct subcellular localization and to identify the nascent biosynthesis sites of these anionic polymers.

Free Research Field

応用微生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

グラム陽性細菌は厚い細胞壁をもっており、細胞形態を決める外骨格として機能するとともに、様々な環境変化や化学物質などから細胞を守る機能がある。細胞壁テイコ酸およびリポテイコ酸の両方を欠損すると合成致死になることから、両テイコ酸の重要性がうかがえる。本研究では、細胞表層のWTAやLTA修飾機構を明らかにするとともに、両テイコ酸の生理的役割の解明を試みた。本研究により得られた成果は、未だ不明な点が多い細胞壁のテイコ酸修飾が、細胞表層においてどのように行われているのか明らかにするとともに、新たな殺菌・静菌法の開発にもつながる可能性が期待できる。