Skip to Content
MilliporeSigma
  • Synthesis of glycerol phosphate lipoteichoic acid in Staphylococcus aureus.

Synthesis of glycerol phosphate lipoteichoic acid in Staphylococcus aureus.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (2007-05-08)
Angelika Gründling, Olaf Schneewind
ABSTRACT

Lipoteichoic acid (LTA), a glycerol phosphate surface polymer, is a component of the envelope of Gram-positive bacteria. However, the molecular basis for its synthesis or function is not known. Here we report that Staphylococcus aureus LtaS synthesizes glycerol phosphate LTA. Construction of a mutant S. aureus strain with inducible ltaS expression revealed that LTA synthesis is required for bacterial growth and cell division. An ltaS homologue of Bacillus subtilis restored LTA synthesis and the growth of ltaS mutant staphylococci. Thus, LtaS inhibition can be used as a target to treat human infections caused by antibiotic-resistant S. aureus or other bacterial pathogens.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
sn-Glycerol 1-phosphate lithium salt, ≥95.0% (TLC)