Beiyan Nan

Impaired envelope integrity in the absence of SanA is linked to increased lipid II availability and an imbalance of septal peptidoglycan synthesis

This paper investigates the role of SanA in maintaining envelope integrity in E. coli by linking its absence to increased lipid II availability and imbalanced septal peptidoglycan synthesis.

Reprogrammed peptidoglycan elongation reveals plasticity in bacterial growth modes

This study shows that bacterial peptidoglycan elongation can be reprogrammed from nonpolar to polar modes by altering MreB localization or directly targeting the Rod synthase to poles.

Tissue-like structures formed by a bacterium

This study shows that Myxococcus xanthus forms tissue-like structures under moenomycin treatment, suggesting potential evolutionary links between bacterial stress responses and eukaryotic tissue organization.

A novel mechanism for morphological change during bacterial sporulation based on programmed peptidoglycan degradation

This study identifies a novel mechanism in bacterial sporulation where programmed peptidoglycan degradation by lytic transglycosylases LtgA and LtgB controls morphological changes, preventing non-resistant pseudospore formation.

Autonomous division of the outer membranes in Gram-negative bacteria

The paper shows that Gram-negative bacteria can divide their outer membranes through mechanical force, with variations in division mechanisms linked to PG division and OM-PG interactions.

A SNARE-like mechanism mediates bacterial outer membrane exchange

This study identifies a SNARE-like mechanism in Myxococcus xanthus that mediates outer membrane exchange through TraA and TraB proteins, revealing parallels to eukaryotic SNAREs.

A lytic transglycosylase connects bacterial focal adhesion complexes to the peptidoglycan cell wall

This study identifies AgmT as a lytic transglycosylase that links bacterial focal adhesion complexes to the peptidoglycan cell wall, enabling mechanical force transmission during gliding motility.