Degrees of O-Acetylation and Cross-linking of the Peptidoglycan of Neisseria gonorrhoeae during Growth

Department of Microbiology, Life Sciences Building, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, U.K. ABSTRACT SUMMARY: The progress of incorporation of radioactive glucosamine into the O -acetylated and non- O -acetylated sub-units of the insoluble peptidoglycan of growing Neisseria gonorrhoeae was examined. More than 80% of the final degree of cross-linking was achieved within 3 min; the remainder of the process took much longer. Rapid O -acetylation occupied up to 10 min, at which time only about 65% of the maximum value had been reached. There was thus evidence for maturation of peptidoglycan both in regard to cross-linking and to O -acetylation.