The role of lipid II accumulation in the mode of action of glycopeptide antibiotics (A11)

• Subject Area: Medical Microbiology and Mycology, Hygiene, Molecular Infection Biology
• Term: from 2019 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 398967434

The cell wall precursor lipid II is the molecular target of glycopeptide antibiotics and accumulates in the bacterial cell during antibiotic treatment. We aim at understanding the cellular effects of antibiotic-induced lipid II accumulation and how this contributes to the mode of action of glycopeptide antibiotics. To this end, we will characterize lipid II accumulation by a comprehensive set of biochemical assays and examine the resulting effects on membrane properties and on the localization of components of the cell wall biosynthesis and cell division machinery using state-of-the-art fluorescence microscopy.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 261: Cellular Mechanisms of Antibiotic Action and Production
• Applicant Institution: Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen
• Project Heads: Dr. Fabian Grein; Professor Dr. Ulrich Kubitscheck, until 6/2023