Alteration in penicillin-binding patterns during cell cycle of Caulobacter crescentus.

Alteration in penicillin-binding patterns during asymmetrical cell division in the cell cycle of Caulobacter crescentus was examined. Most penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) were turned over slowly, and their penicillin-binding patterns did not alter appreciably during the cell cycle. One of the PBPs, PBP S2 in the soluble fraction, however, was turned over quickly and was detected only in swarmer cells, suggesting that PBP S2 is synthesized in swarmer cells and turned over and/or inactivated in the following stalked cell cycle.