Teichoic acids function

Neuhaus FC, Baddiley J (2003) A continuum of anionic charge structures and functions of D-alanyl-teichoic acids in Gram-positive bacteria. Microbiol Mol Biol R 67 686-723... 

The function of teichoic acids is still unsettled. The presence in them of highly reactive groupings, for example, aminoacyl ester, might be consistent with a function related to cell-energy relationships. However, as the reactive ester linkages are confined almost exclusively to D-alanine, and in view of the restricted location of the polymers in the cell, such a function seems rather unlikely. Similarly, there is little reason to associate their serological properties with function. It has been suggested (125) A. R. Archibald and J. Baddiley, Biochem. J., 95, 19c (1965). 

In the present review, we briefly describe the structures, functions and biosynthesis of teichoic acids. Then the chemical syntheses of TAs and fragments of the polymer chains are described in more detail. 

A variety of glycans with important stmctural and functional roles are produced as part of bacteria cell walls. Capsular polysaccharides (CPS), teichoic acids, and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are the three most important and represent the bacterial first line of defense against complement and bacteriophages. The carbohydrate portion of this glycoconjugate contains the major antigenic determinants that distinguish various serotypes of bacteria [1]. 

Archibald, A.R. (1974) The structure, biosynthesis and function of teichoic acid. Advances in Microbiology and Physiology 11,53-95. 

If phosphogalactomannan does serve a protective function during synthesis of mural proteins, then it may be necessary to add the mannosyl residues to the mannan in a stepwise fashion from GDP-D-mannose rather than in a block from a lipid-linked intermediate mannosyl-containing oligosaccharide. The role of phosphoethanolamine in the proposed protective function may be similar in type to that reported by Holtje and Tomasz for ethan-olamine and choline in cell wall teichoic acid of Diplococcus pneumoniae that is, ethanolamine-containing cell wall teichoic... 

If the primary mechanism of daptomycin bactericidal activity is dissipation of membrane function that indirectly influences peptidoglycan, C A, RHA, protein, lipid, and teichoic acid biosynthesis, it is not clear why daptomycin is synergistic with aminoglycosides. Uptake and bactericidal activity of aminoglycosides require membrane potential (72,73). 

Teichoic Acids.—Recent reviews have referred to the occurrence and functions of membrane teichoic acids, the biosynthesis of bacterial cell walls and of teichoic acids in bacterial cell walls and membranes, and the surface carbohydrates of prokaryotic cells. ... 

Archibald, A.R. The Structure, Biosynthesis, and Function of Teichoic Acid , Advances in Microbial Physiology (1974), 11, 53-95... 

The pattern of cleavage of the cell wall of B. subtilis by purified iV-acetyl-muramic acid L-alanine amidase has been studied in the absence, and in the presence, of a modifier protein that combines stoicheiometrically with the enzyme to stimulate its activity. The modifier protein did not affect the rate of the enzymic reaction, but changed the mode of cleavage of the cell wall from a random pattern to a sequential pattern. Binding of the enzyme to the cell wall and functional interaction with the modifier protein occurred only when the cell wall contained teichoic acids. It appears that cell-wall teichoic acids act as specific allosteric ligands for bacterial lytic enzymes. 

In addition to their role as components of nucleoproteins, purines and pyrimidines are vital to the proper functioning of the cell. The bases are constituents of various coenzymes, such as coenzyme A (CoA), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), guanosine triphosphate (GTP), cytidine triphosphate (CTP), diphosphopyridine nucleotide (DPN), triphosphopyridine nucleotide (TPN), and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD). A pyrimidine derivative, cytidine diphosphate choline, is involved in phospholipid synthe another pyrimidine compound, uridine diphosphate glucose, is an important substance in carbohydrate metabolism. Cytidine diphosphate ribitol functions in the biosynthesis of a new group of bacterial cell-wall components, the teichoic acids. While mammals excrete nitrogen derived from protein catabolism in the form of urea, birds eliminate their nitrogen by synthesizing it into the purine compound, uric acid. 

The most prominent phosphoms polymers are nucleic acid (NA) and teichoic acid (TA) these naturally occurring polymers are not covered in this chapter. Backbones of NA and TA are composed of hydrolytically stable diesters of phosphoric acids. The major functions of DNA (and several types of RNA) are related to storing and transferring information, genetic code, synthesis of proteins with a given microstmcture, and contribution to the funaion of memory. Less known TA (mainly polyphosphates of glycerol or ribitol) with molar mass up to 2.5 x 10 are present in cell walls in Gram-positive baaeria. The main function of TAs is to provide... 

The function of the teichoic acids in the bacterial cell wall has not been definitely determined. Shortly after their discovery in the late 1950s, it was suggested that they function in the control of the concentration of cations in the cell wall. There was some evidence that they played a role in the balance of divalent cations in membranes and thereby provided membrane integrity and stability to the enzymes in the membrane and cell wall [203]. 

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