Biosynthesis of the Peptidoglycan of Bacterial Cell Walls XI. FORMATION OF THE ISOGLUTAMINE AMIDE GROUP IN THE CELL WALLS OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS

The lipid intermediates in peptidoglycan synthesis in Sfaphylococcus aureus, N-acetyhuuramyl(-pentapeptide)-PP-lipid and N-acetylglucosaminyl-N-acetyhnuramyl(-pentapeptide)-P-P-lipid, act as acceptors of ammonia in an ATP-dependent reaction in which the ar-carboxyl group of glutamic acid is amidated. Procedures have been developed for the separation of the amide and the amide-free forms of the lipid intermediates, and it has been shown that the amide-free lipid intermediate can substitute for the uridine nucleotide substrates in the amidation reaction. Some properties of the reaction are reported.