Suzanne Walker

Lipid Changes due to Low O-GlcNAc and the Downstream Consequences

This study investigates the effects of O-GlcNAc depletion on lipid metabolism and shows that it leads to lipid remodeling and increased sensitivity to ferroptosis.

The mycomembrane proteins PorH and ProtX are inserted at polar growth zones and linked to the cell wall

This study investigates MOMP assembly in Corynebacterium glutamicum, showing that PorH and ProtX are inserted at polar growth zones and linked to the cell wall.

A TmaT-AftD interaction is required for the CmpL4 mycomembrane biogenesis pathway in Corynebacterium glutamicum.

This paper identifies the TmaT-AftD interaction as essential for mycolate transport via the CmpL4 pathway and AG synthesis in Corynebacterium glutamicum.

Staphylococcus aureus uses a eukaryotic-like uridyltransferase to make UDP-GlcNAc for cell wall synthesis

This study identifies NagU as the primary uridyltransferase in Staphylococcus aureus for UDP-GlcNAc synthesis, which is essential for cell wall synthesis and regulated by its interaction with DacA.

Identification of the complete pathway for conversion of bilirubin to urobilinogen by human gut bacteria

The paper identifies the complete pathway for bilirubin conversion to urobilinogen by human gut bacteria, revealing two enzymes and their specific reactions.

The mechanism of peptidoglycan O-acetylation in Gram-negative bacteria typifies bacterial MBOAT-SGNH acyltransferases

This study elucidates the mechanism of MBOAT-SGNH acyltransferases in Gram-negative bacteria, showing that a tyrosine-containing peptide shuttles acyl groups from MBOAT to SGNH active sites for peptidoglycan O-acetylation.

The role of lipoteichoic acid in Staphylococcus aureus cell wall integrity

This study identifies LTA's role in regulating ScaH to maintain cell wall integrity in S. aureus, showing that LTA suppresses ScaH expression and activity while sequestering it during growth.

An activation pathway governs cell wall polymerization by a bacterial morphogenic machine

The paper identifies an activation pathway involving PBP2 that enhances cell wall polymerization and MreB filament formation in E. coli.

Maturing Mycobacterial Peptidoglycan Requires Non-canonical Crosslinks to Maintain Shape

The paper shows that LDT-mediated crosslinks in mycobacteria are crucial for maintaining rod shape at aging cell wall sites, and their absence makes Mtb more susceptible to combined PBP and LDT-inhibiting drugs.

MreB Filaments Create Rod Shape By Aligning Along Principal Membrane Curvature.

The paper shows MreB filaments align along principal membrane curvature to create rod shape in bacteria, supported by biophysical modeling and experimental observations.