Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Alterations in the outer wall architecture caused by the inhibition of mycoside C biosynthesis inMycobacterium avium

  • Published:
Current Microbiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Radiolabeled amino acids (l-U[C14]alanine,d-U[C14]alanine,l-U[C14]threonine, andl-U[C14]phenylalanine) were exponentially incorporated into the trichloroacetic acid (TCA)-insoluble material (whole cells) ofMycobacterium avium during the first 30–60 min of labeling. Bacteria labeled for 48 h were extracted with chloroform-methanol (2∶1 vol/vol). The thin layer chromatography (TLC) analysis of native lipids showed that mycoside C was labeled by the amino acids used.d-cycloserine (d-CS) and other amino acid analogs were examined as potential inhibitors of mycoside C biosynthesis. It was found thatd-CS caused about 27% inhibition, whereaso-,p-, andm-fluoro-dl-phenylalanine (Fl-phe) caused 80%–90% inhibition of the mycoside C biosynthesis. Judging from the data on inhibition experiments, it was concluded that the mycoside C biosynthesis started from the fatty acyl end and proceeded by the stepwise addition ofd-phenylalanine,d-allo-threonine, andd-alanine. Thed-alanyl-d-alanine peptidoglycan intermediate did not seem to serve as a donor ofd-alanine for mycoside C biosynthesis. Ultrastructural observation of the bacteria treated withd-CS showed only partial alteration of the outer wall layer, whereasm-Fl-phe treatment caused profound alterations. Successive transfers of the bacteria in growth medium supplemented withm-Fl-phe resulted in extensive disorganization of the outer layer.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  1. Barrow WW, Ullom BP, Brennan PJ (1980) Peptidoglycolipid nature of the superficial cell wall sheath of smooth-colony-forming mycobacteria. J Bacteriol 144:814–822

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Brennan PJ, Souhrada M, Ullom BP, McClatchy JK, Goren M (1978) Identification of atypical mycobacteria by thin-layer chromatography of their surface antigens J Clin Microbiol 8:374–379

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. David HL (1970) Susceptibility ofMycobacterium intracellulare to O-carbamyl-d-serine. Am Rev Respir Dis 102:105–106

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. David HL (1981) Basis for lack of drug susceptibility of atypical mycobacteria. Rev Infect Dis 3:878–884

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. David HL, Rastogi N (1985) Antibacterial action of colistin (polymyxin E) againstMycobacterium aurum. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 27:701–707

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. David HL, Takayama K, Goldman DS (1969) Susceptibility of mycobacteriald-alanyl-d-alanine synthetase to D-cycloserine. Am Rev Respir Dis 100:579–581

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. David HL, Goldman DS, Takayama K (1970) Inhibition of the synthesis of Wax D peptidoglycolipid ofMycobacterium tuberculosis byd-cycloserine. Infect Immun 1:74–77

    Google Scholar 

  8. David HL, Rastogi N, Clavel-Sérès S, Clément F, Thorel MF (1987) Structure of the cell envelope ofMycobacterium avium. Zbl Bakt Hyg A 264:49–66

    Google Scholar 

  9. Goren M (1979) Mycobacterial lipids: chemistry and biological activities. In: Youmans GP (ed) Tuberculosis. Philadelphia: WB Saunders Co, pp 63–193

    Google Scholar 

  10. Hobby GL, Redmond WB, Runyon EH, Schaefer WB, Wayne LG, Wichelhausen RH (1967) A study on pulmonary disease associated with mycobacteria other thanMycobacterium tuberculosis. A report of the Veterans Administration Armed Forces Cooperative Study. Am Rev Respir Dis 95:954–971

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Lanéelle G, Asselineau J (1968) Structure d'un glycoside de peptidolipide isolé d'une mycobactérie. Eur J Biochem 5:487–491

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Minnikin DE (1982) Lipids: complex lipids, their chemistry, biosynthesis and roles. In: Ratledge C, Stanford J (eds) The biology of mycobacteria. London: Academic Press, pp 95–184

    Google Scholar 

  13. Petit JF, Adam A, Wietzerbin-Falszpan J (1970) Isolation of UDP-N-glycolyl-muramyl (ALA, GLU, DAP) fromMycobacterium phlei. FEBS Lett 6:55

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Rastogi N, Fréhel C, Ryter A, Ohayon H, Lesourd M, David HL (1981) Multiple drug-resistance inMycobacterium avium: is the cell wall architecture responsible for the exclusion of antimicrobial agents? Antimicrob Agents Chemother 20:666–677

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Rastogi N, Fréhel C, David HL (1986) Triple-layered structure of the mycobacterial cell wall: evidence for the existence of a polysaccharide-rich outer layer in 18 mycobacterial species. Curr Microbiol 13:237–242

    Google Scholar 

  16. Takayama K, David HL, Wang L, Goldman DS (1970) Isolation and characterization of uridine-diphosphate-N-glycolylmuramyl-L-alanyl-γ-d-glutamyl-meso-α,α′-diaminopimelic acid fromMycobacterium tuberculosis. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 39:7–12

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Wolinsky E (1979) Nontuberculous mycobacteria and associated diseases. Am Rev Respir Dis 119:107–159

    Google Scholar 

  18. Woodley C, David HL (1976) Effect of temperature on the rate of the transparent to opaque colony type transition inMycobacterium avium. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 9:113–119

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tuberculosis and Mycobacteriology Unit, Department of Bacteriology and Mycology, Pasteur Institute, Paris, France

    Hugo L. David, Nalin Rastogi, Sabine Clavel-Sérès & Françoise Clément

Authors
  1. Hugo L. David
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nalin Rastogi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sabine Clavel-Sérès
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Françoise Clément
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

David, H.L., Rastogi, N., Clavel-Sérès, S. et al. Alterations in the outer wall architecture caused by the inhibition of mycoside C biosynthesis inMycobacterium avium . Current Microbiology 17, 61–68 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01568787

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01568787

Keywords

Search

Navigation