1 why Phosphotransferase system so important to bacteria 2 w

1. why Phosphotransferase system so important to bacteria?
2. why is the presence of D amino acid an important bacterial virulence factor ?

Solution

1.The phosphoenolpyruvate(PEP):carbohydrate phosphotransferase system (PTS) is found only in bacteria, where it catalyzes the transport and phosphorylation of numerous monosaccharides, disaccharides, amino sugars, polyols, and other sugar derivatives. To carry out its catalytic function in sugar transport and phosphorylation, the PTS uses PEP as an energy source and phosphoryl donor.PTS phosphorylation cascade can phosphorylate or interact with numerous non-PTS proteins and thereby regulate their activity.

2. The presence of D amino acid is an amportant virulence factor because it helps the bacteria to adapt to changing conditions.Matthew Waldor and his colleagues found that certain bacteria convert specific amino acids to their D forms when it is time to slow growth. When these D-amino acids are released into the environment, they change the way nearby bacteria construct their cell walls.Bacteria may release D-amino acids essentially to let one another know they are there, and the population as a whole should slow growth to avoid consuming limited resources too quickly.