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Cited by 61Bacterial Genetics and BiotechnologyTuberculosis Research and EpidemiologyBiochemical and Structural Characterization

Sequential assembly of the septal cell envelope prior to V snapping in Corynebacterium glutamicum

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Zhou, Xiaoxue, Rodriguez-Rivera, Frances P., Lim, Hoong Chuin, Bell, Jason C., Bernhardt, Thomas G., Bertozzi, Carolyn R., Theriot, Julie A.·2019·Nature Chemical Biology
DOI 10.1038/s41589-018-0206-1PMC PMC6693342
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Abstract

Members of the Corynebacterineae, including Corynebacterium and Mycobacterium, have an atypical cell envelope characterized by an additional mycomembrane outside of the peptidoglycan layer. How this multilayered cell envelope is assembled remains unclear. Here, we tracked the assembly dynamics of different envelope layers in Corynebacterium glutamicum and Mycobacterium smegmatis by using metabolic labeling and found that the septal cell envelope is assembled sequentially in both species. Additionally, we demonstrate that in C. glutamicum, the peripheral peptidoglycan layer at the septal junction remains contiguous throughout septation, forming a diffusion barrier for the fluid mycomembrane. This diffusion barrier is resolved through perforations in the peripheral peptidoglycan, thus leading to the confluency of the mycomembrane before daughter cell separation (V snapping). Furthermore, the same junctional peptidoglycan also serves as a mechanical link holding the daughter cells together and undergoes mechanical fracture during V snapping. Finally, we show that normal V snapping in C. glutamicum depends on complete assembly of the septal cell envelope.

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  • The peptidoglycan layer is constructed before the mycolic acid layer.

    “This thorough article shows that the cell wall core is assembled in an ordered fashion: the peptidoglycan layer is constructed before the mycolic acid layer (see Supplementary information for the mycobacterial data).”

    From The mycobacterial cell envelope — a moving target (2020) · cites this paper as [39]

    The Discussion states that the septal envelope in C. glutamicum and M. smegmatis is assembled sequentially from peptidoglycan (PG) to mycomembrane (MM). The claim omits the septal qualification: the same passage describes polar-growth assembly as apparently synchronous, so the ordering does not apply to cell-wall assembly generally. Page numbers are not available in the supplied copy. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • The cell wall core is assembled in an ordered fashion.

    “This thorough article shows that the cell wall core is assembled in an ordered fashion: the peptidoglycan layer is constructed before the mycolic acid layer (see Supplementary information for the mycobacterial data).”

    From The mycobacterial cell envelope — a moving target (2020) · cites this paper as [39]

    The Discussion states that in C. glutamicum and M. smegmatis, the septal cell envelope is assembled sequentially from peptidoglycan to the mycolic membrane during cytokinesis. The citing sentence omits that condition: the same passage says assembly during polar growth appears synchronous, so it does not support ordered assembly as a general rule. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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References 51 · Cited by 61

Research works printed but not linked: 49

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Authors
Zhou, X., Rodriguez-Rivera, F. P., Lim, H. C., Bell, J. C., Bernhardt, T. G., Bertozzi, C. R., & Theriot, J. A.
Affiliations
  • Stanford Medicine (US)
  • Harvard University (US)
  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute (US)
Corresponding author
Theriot, Julie A.
ORCID
Venue
Nature Chemical Biology
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2019-01-21
Volume
15
Issue
3
Pages
221-231
ISSN
  • 1552-4450 (ISSN-L)
  • 1552-4469
DOI
10.1038/s41589-018-0206-1
PMC
PMC6693342
OpenAlex
W2909242222
Cited by
61
References
51
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 1
FWCI
4.76
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations
  • Nature Chemical Biology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute
  • National Institutes of Health (1s10rr026780-01, GM058867, AI051622)
  • National Institute of General Medical Sciences (R37GM058867, P50GM107615, F32GM116338, R01GM058867)
  • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (R01AI051622, R01AI036929, R37AI036929, R37AI051622)
  • National Center for Research Resources (S10 RR026780)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Biochemical and Structural Characterization
Keywords
mycomembrane, peptidoglycan, cell division, Corynebacterium glutamicum, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Corynebacterineae, metabolic labeling, diffusion barrier, cell isolation, cell wall mechanics
MeSH terms
Bacteria, Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins, Bacterial Proteins, Cell Division, Cell Membrane, Cell Wall, Corynebacterium, Mycolic Acids, Peptidoglycan, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Corynebacterium glutamicum

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