Cortex synthesis during Bacillus subtilis sporulation depends on the transpeptidase activity of SpoVD.

The nonessential process of peptidoglycan synthesis during Bacillus subtilis sporulation is one model to study bacterial cell wall biogenesis. SpoVD is a class B high-molecular weight penicillin-binding protein that is specific for sporulation. Strains lacking this protein produce spores without the peptidoglycan cortex layer and are heat-sensitive. The detailed functions of the four different protein domains of the SpoVD protein are unknown and the observed phenotype of strains lacking the entire protein could be an indirect defect. We therefore inactivated the transpeptidase domain by substitution of the active site serine residue. Our results demonstrate that endospore cortex synthesis depends on the transpeptidase activity of SpoVD specifically. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.