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The DD-carboxypeptidase activity encoded by pbp4B is not essential for the cell growth of Escherichia coli

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Abstract

The gene (pbp4B) encoding a putative DD-carboxypeptidase has been deleted in Escherichia coli and it is shown to be not essential for cell division. Disruption of the gene in a genetic background where all putative activities of DD-carboxypeptidases and/or DD-endopeptidases had been eliminated indicates that these activities are not required for cell growth in enterobacteria. The penicillin-binding capacity and a low DD-carboxypeptidase activity of PBP4B are demonstrated.

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Abbreviations

PBPs:

Penicillin-binding proteins

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Acknowledgement

We thank Dominique Mengin-Lecreulx for help with Datsenko technique, and Kevin D. Young for kindly providing us with mutant strain CS802-2. This work was supported by grant number BIO2000-0235 from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology and grant number LSHM-CT-2003-503335 (European Union). The institutional help of the Foundation Ramon Areces to the CBMSO is acknowledged.

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  1. Centro de Biología Molecular “Severo Ochoa” CSIC-UAM, Campus de Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain

    Daniel Vega & Juan A. Ayala

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  1. Daniel Vega
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  2. Juan A. Ayala
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Correspondence to Juan A. Ayala.

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Vega, D., Ayala, J.A. The DD-carboxypeptidase activity encoded by pbp4B is not essential for the cell growth of Escherichia coli . Arch Microbiol 185, 23–27 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-005-0057-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-005-0057-5

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