Synthesis of cell envelope components by anucleate cells (minicells) of Bacillus subtilis

Abstract

Minicells produced by Bacillus subtilis CU403 (divIVB1) are capable of mucopeptide biosynthesis as shown by the incorporation of L-alanine, D-alanine, and N-acetylglucosamine into trichloroacetic acid-precipitable material, which can be degraded to trichloroacetic acid-soluble material by lysozyme digestion. Incorporation of the precursors is sensitive to vancomycin and D-cycloserine and insensitive to chloramphenicol. Penicillin inhibits the incorporation of D- and L-alanine N-acetylglucosamine at concentrations in excess of 10 mug of penicillin per ml; however, minicells are insensitive to penicillin-induced lysis. The material synthesized in minicells from N-acetylglucosamine is not subject to turnover during a subsequent 6-h incubation period. [2-3H]glycerol is converted to a cold trichloroacetic acid-precipitable form by minicells. This synthesis is not inhibited by vancomycin, penicillin, D-cycloserine, or chloramphenicol. Fractionation of the material synthesized from glycerol into hot trichloroacetic acid-soluble material and chloroform/methanol-extractable material indicates that minicells convert glycerol into teichoic acid and lipid.