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Article
Open AccessStructural basis of peptidoglycan synthesis by E. coli RodA-PBP2 complex
Peptidoglycan (PG) is an essential structural component of the bacterial cell wall that is synthetized during cell division and elongation. PG forms an extracellular polymer crucial for cellular viability, the...
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Article
Structural basis of lipopolysaccharide maturation by the O-antigen ligase
The outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria has an external leaflet that is largely composed of lipopolysaccharide, which provides a selective permeation barrier, particularly against antimicrobials1. The final ...
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Article
Open AccessThe Extracellular Domain of Two-component System Sensor Kinase VanS from Streptomyces coelicolor Binds Vancomycin at a Newly Identified Binding Site
The glycopeptide antibiotic vancomycin has been widely used to treat infections of Gram-positive bacteria including Clostridium difficile and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. However, since its introd...
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Article
Open AccessNano-encapsulated Escherichia coli Divisome Anchor ZipA, and in Complex with FtsZ
The E. coli membrane protein ZipA, binds to the tubulin homologue FtsZ, in the early stage of cell division. We isolated ZipA in a Styrene Maleic Acid lipid particle (SMALP) preserving its position and integrity ...
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Article
Open AccessAnalysis of SMALP co-extracted phospholipids shows distinct membrane environments for three classes of bacterial membrane protein
Biological characterisation of membrane proteins lags behind that of soluble proteins. This reflects issues with the traditional use of detergents for extraction, as the surrounding lipids are generally lost, ...
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Article
Open AccessInhibition of D-Ala:D-Ala ligase through a phosphorylated form of the antibiotic D-cycloserine
D-cycloserine is an antibiotic which targets sequential bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan biosynthesis enzymes: alanine racemase and D-alanine:D-alanine ligase. By a combination of structural, chemical and mec...
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Article
Open AccessSansanmycin natural product analogues as potent and selective anti-mycobacterials that inhibit lipid I biosynthesis
Tuberculosis (TB) is responsible for enormous global morbidity and mortality, and current treatment regimens rely on the use of drugs that have been in use for more than 40 years. Owing to widespread resistanc...
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Article
Open AccessReconstruction of diaminopimelic acid biosynthesis allows characterisation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis N-succinyl-L,L-diaminopimelic acid desuccinylase
With the increased incidence of tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis there is an urgent need for new and better anti-tubercular drugs. N-succinyl-L,L-diaminopimelic acid desuccinylase (DapE) is ...
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Article
Open AccessCarbohydrate scaffolds as glycosyltransferase inhibitors with in vivo antibacterial activity
The rapid rise of multi-drug-resistant bacteria is a global healthcare crisis, and new antibiotics are urgently required, especially those with modes of action that have low-resistance potential. One promising...
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Article
Asymmetric triplex metallohelices with high and selective activity against cancer cells
Small cationic amphiphilic α-helical peptides are emerging as agents for the treatment of cancer and infection, but they are costly and display unfavourable pharmacokinetics. Helical coordination complexes may...
