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Peptidoglycan (PG) is an essential molecule for the survival of bacteria, and thus, its biosynthesis and remodeling have always been in the spotlight when it comes to the development of antibiotics. The peptidoglycan polymer provides a protective function in bacteria, but at the same time is continuously subjected to editing activities that in some cases lead to the release of peptidoglycan fragments (i.e., muropeptides) to the environment. Several soluble muropeptides have been reported to work as signaling molecules. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms involved in muropeptide release (PG breakdown and PG recycling) and describe the known PG-receptor proteins responsible for PG sensing. Furthermore, we overview the role of muropeptides as signaling molecules, focusing on the microbial responses and their functions in the host beyond their immunostimulatory activity.

In addition, the PG mesh can be decorated with secondary cell wall polymers, such as wall teichoic acids (polyol-phosphate polymers) or capsule polysaccharides that are covalently attached to PG (Rajagopal and Walker, [16]). UPP is essential for the translocation of the PG precursor lipid II and other extracellular polysaccharides and thus constitutes a promising target for a novel class of cell envelope antibiotics. I L. plantarum i is an ideal system to study PG hydrolase phenotypes due to its relatively small number of PG lytic enzymes (a "mere" twelve!). During cell wall turnover in the Gram-positive pathogen I S. aureus i , the MurNAc-GlcNAc disaccharide is released from PG by the major autolysin Atl and its components eventually reused for PG biogenesis. [Extracted from the article]

Peptidoglycan (PG) is an essential molecule for the survival of bacteria, and thus, its biosynthesis and remodeling have always been in the spotlight when it comes to the development of antibiotics. The peptidoglycan polymer provides a protective function in bacteria, but at the same time is continuously subjected to editing activities that in some cases lead to the release of peptidoglycan fragments (i.e., muropeptides) to the environment. Several soluble muropeptides have been reported to work as signaling molecules. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms involved in muropeptide release (PG breakdown and PG recycling) and describe the known PG-receptor proteins responsible for PG sensing. Furthermore, we overview the role of muropeptides as signaling molecules, focusing on the microbial responses and their functions in the host beyond their immunostimulatory activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]