Characterization of a glucosamine/glucosaminide N-acetyltransferase of Clostridium acetobutylicum.
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ABSTRACT: Many bacteria, in particular Gram-positive bacteria, contain high proportions of non-N-acetylated amino sugars, i.e., glucosamine (GlcN) and/or muramic acid, in the peptidoglycan of their cell wall, thereby acquiring resistance to lysozyme. However, muramidases with specificity for non-N-acetylated peptidoglycan have been characterized as part of autolytic systems such as of Clostridium acetobutylicum. We aim to elucidate the recovery pathway for non-N-acetylated peptidoglycan fragments and present here the identification and characterization of an acetyltransferase of novel specificity from C. acetobutylicum, named GlmA (for glucosamine/glucosaminide N-acetyltransferase). The enzyme catalyzes the specific transfer of an acetyl group from acetyl coenzyme A to the primary amino group of GlcN, thereby generating N-acetylglucosamine. GlmA is also able to N-acetylate GlcN residues at the nonreducing end of glycosides such as (partially) non-N-acetylated peptidoglycan fragments and ?-1,4-glycosidically linked chitosan oligomers. Km values of 114, 64, and 39 ?M were determined for GlcN, (GlcN)2, and (GlcN)3, respectively, and a 3- to 4-fold higher catalytic efficiency was determined for the di- and trisaccharides. GlmA is the first cloned and biochemically characterized glucosamine/glucosaminide N-acetyltransferase and a member of the large GCN5-related N-acetyltransferases (GNAT) superfamily of acetyltransferases. We suggest that GlmA is required for the recovery of non-N-acetylated muropeptides during cell wall rescue in C. acetobutylicum.
SUBMITTER: Reith J
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3187384 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Oct
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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