Structural insight into YcbB-mediated beta-lactam resistance in Escherichia coli

The bacterial cell wall plays a crucial role in viability and is an important drug target. In Escherichia coli , the peptidoglycan crosslinking reaction to form the cell wall is primarily carried out by penicillin-binding proteins that catalyse D,D-transpeptidase activity. However, an alternate crosslinking mechanism involving the L,D-transpeptidase YcbB can lead to bypass of D,D-transpeptidation and beta-lactam resistance. Here, we show that...