C55-isoprenyl pyrophosphate explained

C55-isoprenyl pyrophosphate (also known as undecaprenyl pyrophosphate or C55-PP) is an essential molecule involved in the construction of the bacterial peptidoglycan cell wall.^[1] It is a receptor found in the plasma membrane of bacteria allowing glycan tetrapeptide monomers synthesized in the cell cytoplasm to translocate to the periplasmic space.^[2]

C55-P (undecaprenyl phosphate) is a related compound, containing one fewer phosphate group. It is produced from C55-PP by reaction EC 3.6.1.27, typically catalyzed by UppP/BacA. C55-P is recycled back into C55-PP later in the process. C55-OH is known as bactoprenol.^[2]

Notes and References

1. K. John . Stone. Jack L. . Strominger. Mechanism of Action of Bacitracin: Complexation with Metal Ion and C55-Isoprenyl Pyrophosphate. PNAS. 68. 12. December 1971. 3223–3227. 4332017. 10.1073/pnas.68.12.3223. 389626. 1971PNAS...68.3223S. free.
2. Manat . Guillaume . Roure . Sophie . Auger . Rodolphe . Bouhss . Ahmed . Barreteau . Hélène . Mengin-Lecreulx . Dominique . Touzé . Thierry . Deciphering the Metabolism of Undecaprenyl-Phosphate: The Bacterial Cell-Wall Unit Carrier at the Membrane Frontier . Microbial Drug Resistance . June 2014 . 20 . 3 . 199–214 . 10.1089/mdr.2014.0035. 24799078 . 4050452 .