Eggert U S, Ruiz N, Falcone B V, Branstrom A A, Goldman R C, Silhavy T J, Kahne D
Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
Science. 2001 Oct 12;294(5541):361-4. doi: 10.1126/science.1063611. Epub 2001 Aug 23.
Small molecules that affect specific protein functions can be valuable tools for dissecting complex cellular processes. Peptidoglycan synthesis and degradation is a process in bacteria that involves multiple enzymes under strict temporal and spatial regulation. We used a set of small molecules that inhibit the transglycosylation step of peptidoglycan synthesis to discover genes that help to regulate this process. We identified a gene responsible for the susceptibility of Escherichia coli cells to killing by glycolipid derivatives of vancomycin, thus establishing a genetic basis for activity differences between these compounds and vancomycin.
影响特定蛋白质功能的小分子可能是剖析复杂细胞过程的宝贵工具。肽聚糖的合成与降解是细菌中的一个过程，该过程涉及多种酶，并受到严格的时间和空间调控。我们使用了一组抑制肽聚糖合成转糖基化步骤的小分子来发现有助于调节这一过程的基因。我们鉴定出了一个与大肠杆菌细胞对万古霉素糖脂衍生物杀伤敏感性相关的基因，从而为这些化合物与万古霉素之间的活性差异建立了遗传基础。
