# ENZYMOLOGY OF BACTERIAL CELL MEMBRANES

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · 1988 · $137,333

## Abstract

The objective of this project is to study how the enzymes of the
cytoplasmic membrane of Micrococcus luteus, a gram positive bacterium,
effect the biosynthesis of teichuronic acid which is covalently linked to
the peptidoglycan.  A series of intermediates containing undecaprenyl
phosphate as carrier lipid effect teichuronic acid biosynthesis by
sequential elongation of the carbohydrate chain of teichuronic acid.
Modified cell preparations will be used to determine if some of the
intermediates can transfer the putative teichuronic acid chain to
peptidoglycan.  Concomitant peptidoglycan synthesis may also be required.

Another objective is to isolate and chemically characterize the unique
linkage region oligosaccharide which joins teichuronic acid to
peptidoglycan.  An enzymatic and chemical degradation scheme based on the
presumed structure of the linkage region will be followed by purification.
Methylation analysis, mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance
spectroscopy will be used for characterization.

The glycosyltransferase which is involved in teichuronic acid chain
elongation will be purified so that the mechanism can be determined by
which glucosyl residues are incorporated into the polymer with retention of
anomeric configuration while the alternate residues of the polymer are
incorporated with inversion of configuration.

Teichuronidase, an enzyme which degrades teichuronic acid, will be isolated
from an organism which can utilize teichuronic acid as growth substrate.
Characterization of the enzyme will follow.

Immunoelectron microscopy utilizing antibodies directed against teichuronic
acid will be used to evaluate the location of teichuronic acid in the cell
wall and sites of synthesis in the cytoplasmic membrane.

Proteus myxofaciens, a gram negative bacterium, produces an extracellular
gel which will be isolated and characterized by methylation analysis, mass
spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3124405
- **Project number:** 5R01AI008295-20
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
- **SAM.gov UEI:** KABJZBBJ4B54
- **Principal Investigator:** JOHN S ANDERSON
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1988
- **Award amount:** $137,333
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1979-06-01 → 1990-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3124405

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3124405, ENZYMOLOGY OF BACTERIAL CELL MEMBRANES (5R01AI008295-20). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-24 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3124405. Licensed CC0.

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