Microbial Physiology: Peptidoglycan Biosynthesis & Inhibition

Sulfa Antibacterials

Inhibit microbial folate synthesis, bacteriostatic effect

Selective Toxicity

Ability to target specific pathogens without harming host

Resistance Development

Occurs via plasmid acquisition or spontaneous mutation

Plasmids

Extrachromosomal DNA facilitating drug resistance

Dihydropteroate Synthetase

Enzyme essential for microbial folate synthesis

Folate

Necessary for nucleic acid synthesis in bacteria

Bacteriostatic

Halts bacterial growth, like Sulfa drugs

Bacteriocidal

Kills bacteria, exemplified by Penicillin

Peptidoglycan

Cell wall component with NAG & NAM sugars

NAG

N-acetylglucosamine, part of peptidoglycan structure

NAM

N-acetylmuramic acid, in peptidoglycan structure

UDP

Uridine diphosphate, used in monomer formation

Monomer Synthesis

Process of creating activated NAG & NAM monomers

MurG

Enzyme forming lipid II by adding NAG onto lipid I

Transglycosylation

Polymerization step in cell wall biosynthesis

Transpeptidase

Enzyme that crosslinks peptides in cell wall formation

Beta-lactam Antibiotics

Disrupt peptidoglycan synthesis by targeting transpeptidase

Glutamine

Donates amino group in NAG monomer synthesis

Acetyl CoA

Provides acetyl group in NAG monomer synthesis

Fructose 6-phosphate

Used to produce activated NAG & NAM monomers