Conformational and quantitative characterization of oritavancin-peptidoglycan complexes in whole cells of Staphylococcus aureus by in vivo 13C and 15N labeling

High-Sensitivity Analysis of Native Bacterial Biofilms Using Dynamic Nuclear Polarization-Enhanced Solid-State NMR

Bacterial biofilms cause persistent infections that are difficult to treat and contribute greatly to antimicrobial resistance. However, high-resolution structural information on native bacterial biofilms remain very limited. This limitation is primarily due to methodological constraints associated with analyzing complex native samples. Although solid-state NMR (ssNMR) is a promising method in this regard, its conventional applications typically suffer from sensitivity limitations, particularly for unlabeled native samples. Through the use of Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP), we applied sensitivity enhanced ssNMR to characterize native Pseudomonas fluorescens colony biofilms. The increased ssNMR sensitivity by DNP enabled ultrafast structural characterization of the biofilm samples without isotope-labelling, and chemical or physical modification. We collected 1D 13 C and 15 N, and 2D 1 H- 13 C, 1 H- 15 N and 13 C- 13 C ssNMR spectra within seconds/minutes or hours, respectively which enabled us to identify biofilm components as polysaccharides, proteins, and eDNA effectively. This study represents the first application of ultrasensitive DNP ssNMR to characterize a native bacterial biofilm and expands the technical scope of ssNMR towards obtaining insights into the composition and structure of a wide array of in vitro and ex vivo biofilm applications. Such versatility should greatly boost efforts to develop structure-guided approaches for combating infections caused by biofilm-forming microbes.

Three Decades of REDOR in Protein Science: A Solid-State NMR Technique for Distance Measurement and Spectral Editing

Solid-state NMR (ss-NMR) is a powerful tool to investigate noncrystallizable, poorly soluble molecular systems, such as membrane proteins, amyloids, and cell walls, in environments that closely resemble their physical sites of action. Rotational-echo double resonance (REDOR) is an ss-NMR methodology, which by reintroducing heteronuclear dipolar coupling under magic angle spinning conditions provides intramolecular and intermolecular distance restraints at the atomic level. In addition, REDOR can be exploited as a selection tool to filter spectra based on dipolar couplings. Used extensively as a spectroscopic ruler between isolated spins in site-specifically labeled systems and more recently as a building block in multidimensional ss-NMR pulse sequences allowing the simultaneous measurement of multiple distances, REDOR yields atomic-scale information on the structure and interaction of proteins. By extending REDOR to the determination of 1H-X dipolar couplings in recent years, the limit of measurable distances has reached ~15-20 Å, making it an attractive method of choice for the study of complex biomolecular assemblies. Following a methodological introduction including the most recent implementations, examples are discussed to illustrate the versatility of REDOR in the study of biological systems.

Detection of intact vancomycin-arginine as the active antibacterial conjugate in E. coli by whole-cell solid-state NMR

The introduction of new and improved antibacterial agents based on facile synthetic modifications of existing antibiotics represents a promising strategy to deliver urgently needed antibacterial candidates to treat multi-drug resistant bacterial infections. Using this strategy, vancomycin was transformed into a highly active agent against antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative organisms in vitro and in vivo through the addition of a single arginine to yield vancomycin-arginine (V-R). Here, we report detection of the accumulation of V-R in E. coli by whole-cell solid-state NMR using 15N-labeled V-R. 15N CPMAS NMR revealed that the conjugate remained fully amidated without loss of arginine, demonstrating that intact V-R represents the active antibacterial agent. Furthermore, C{N}REDOR NMR in whole cells with all carbons at natural abundance 13C levels exhibited the sensitivity and selectivity to detect the directly bonded 13C-15N pairs of V-R within E. coli cells. Thus, we also present an effective methodology to directly detect and evaluate active drug agents and their accumulation within bacteria without the need for potentially perturbative cell lysis and analysis protocols.

In-cell NMR: Why and how?

NMR spectroscopy has been applied to cells and tissues analysis since its beginnings, as early as 1950. We have attempted to gather here in a didactic fashion the broad diversity of data and ideas that emerged from NMR investigations on living cells. Covering a large proportion of the periodic table, NMR spectroscopy permits scrutiny of a great variety of atomic nuclei in all living organisms non-invasively. It has thus provided quantitative information on cellular atoms and their chemical environment, dynamics, or interactions. We will show that NMR studies have generated valuable knowledge on a vast array of cellular molecules and events, from water, salts, metabolites, cell walls, proteins, nucleic acids, drugs and drug targets, to pH, redox equilibria and chemical reactions. The characterization of such a multitude of objects at the atomic scale has thus shaped our mental representation of cellular life at multiple levels, together with major techniques like mass-spectrometry or microscopies. NMR studies on cells has accompanied the developments of MRI and metabolomics, and various subfields have flourished, coined with appealing names: fluxomics, foodomics, MRI and MRS (i.e. imaging and localized spectroscopy of living tissues, respectively), whole-cell NMR, on-cell ligand-based NMR, systems NMR, cellular structural biology, in-cell NMR… All these have not grown separately, but rather by reinforcing each other like a braided trunk. Hence, we try here to provide an analytical account of a large ensemble of intricately linked approaches, whose integration has been and will be key to their success. We present extensive overviews, firstly on the various types of information provided by NMR in a cellular environment (the "why", oriented towards a broad readership), and secondly on the employed NMR techniques and setups (the "how", where we discuss the past, current and future methods). Each subsection is constructed as a historical anthology, showing how the intrinsic properties of NMR spectroscopy and its developments structured the accessible knowledge on cellular phenomena. Using this systematic approach, we sought i) to make this review accessible to the broadest audience and ii) to highlight some early techniques that may find renewed interest. Finally, we present a brief discussion on what may be potential and desirable developments in the context of integrative studies in biology.

Molecular Modeling and Simulation of the Peptidoglycan Layer of Gram-Positive Bacteria Staphylococcus aureus

The peptidoglycan (PG) layer is a vital component of the bacterial cell wall that protects the cell from rupturing due to internal pressure. Its ubiquity across the bacterial kingdom but not animals has made it the target of drug discovery efforts. The PG layer composed of cross-linked PG strands is porous enough to allow the diffusion of molecules through the PG mesh and into the cell. The lack of an accurate atomistic model of the PG mesh has limited the computational investigations of drug diffusion in Gram-positive bacteria, which lack the outer membrane but consist of a much thicker PG layer compared to Gram-negative bacteria. In this work, we built an atomistic model of the Staphylococcus aureus PG layer architecture with horizontally aligned PG strands and performed molecular dynamics simulations of the diffusion of curcumin molecules through the PG mesh. An accurate model of the Gram-positive bacterial cell wall may aid in developing novel antibiotics to tackle the threat posed by antibiotic resistance.

Molecular dynamics simulations of the secondary-binding site in disaccharide-modified glycopeptide antibiotics

Oritavancin is a semisynthetic glycopeptide antibiotic used to treat severe infections by multidrug-resistant Gram-positive pathogens. Oritavancin is known to be a thousand times more potent than vancomycin against Gram-positive bacteria due to the additional interactions with bacterial peptidoglycan (PG) facilitated by a secondary-binding site. The presence of this secondary-binding site is evident in desleucyl-oritavancin, an Edman degradation product of oritavancin, still retaining its potency against Gram-positive bacteria, whereas desleucyl-vancomycin is devoid of any antimicrobial activities. Herein, using explicit solvent molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, steered MD simulations, and umbrella sampling, we show evidence of a secondary-binding site mediated by the disaccharide-modified hydrophobic sidechain of oritavancin interactions with the pentaglycyl-bridge segment of the PG. The interactions were characterized through comparison to the interaction of PG with chloroeremomycin, vancomycin, and the desleucyl analogs of the glycopeptides. Our results show that the enhanced binding of oritavancin to PG over the binding of the other complexes studied is due to an increase in the hydrophobic effect, electrostatic and van der Waals interactions, and not the average number of hydrogen bonds. Our ranking of the binding interactions of the biomolecular complexes directly correlates with the order based on their experimental minimum inhibitory concentrations. The results of our simulations provide insight into the modification of glycopeptides to increase their antimicrobial activities or the design of novel antibiotics against pathogenic Gram-positive bacteria.

Deuterium Solid State NMR Studies of Intact Bacteria Treated With Antimicrobial Peptides

Solid state NMR has been tremendously useful in characterizing the structure and dynamics of model membranes composed of simple lipid mixtures. Model lipid studies employing solid state NMR have included important work revealing how membrane bilayer structure and dynamics are affected by molecules such as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). However, solid state NMR need not be applied only to model membranes, but can also be used with living, intact cells. NMR of whole cells holds promise for helping resolve some unsolved mysteries about how bacteria interact with AMPs. This mini-review will focus on recent studies using ²H NMR to study how treatment with AMPs affect membranes in intact bacteria.

From Angstroms to Nanometers: Measuring Interatomic Distances by Solid-State NMR

Internuclear distances represent one of the main structural constraints in molecular structure determination using solid-state NMR spectroscopy, complementing chemical shifts and orientational restraints. Although a large number of magic-angle-spinning (MAS) NMR techniques have been available for distance measurements, traditional ¹³C and ¹⁵N NMR experiments are inherently limited to distances of a few angstroms due to the low gyromagnetic ratios of these nuclei. Recent development of fast MAS triple-resonance ¹⁹F and ¹H NMR probes has stimulated the design of MAS NMR experiments that measure distances in the 1-2 nm range with high sensitivity. This review describes the principles and applications of these multiplexed multidimensional correlation distance NMR experiments, with an emphasis on ¹⁹F- and ¹H-based distance experiments. Representative applications of these long-distance NMR methods to biological macromolecules as well as small molecules are reviewed.

Cells, drugs and NMR

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a versatile tool for investigating cellular structures and their compositions. While in vivo and whole-cell NMR have a long tradition in cell-based approaches, high-resolution in-cell NMR spectroscopy is a new addition to these methods. In recent years, technological advancements in multiple areas provided converging benefits for cellular MR applications, especially in terms of robustness, reproducibility and physiological relevance. Here, we review the use of cellular NMR methods for drug discovery purposes in academia and industry. Specifically, we discuss how developments in NMR technologies such as miniaturized bioreactors and flow-probe perfusion systems have helped to consolidate NMR's role in cell-based drug discovery efforts.

Peptidoglycan and Teichoic Acid Levels and Alterations in Staphylococcus aureus by Cell-Wall and Whole-Cell Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

Gram-positive bacteria surround themselves with a multilayered macromolecular cell wall that is essential to cell survival and serves as a major target for antibiotics. The cell wall of Staphylococcus aureus is composed of two major structural components, peptidoglycan (PG) and wall teichoic acid (WTA), together creating a heterogeneous and insoluble matrix that poses a challenge to quantitative compositional analysis. Here, we present 13C cross polarization magic angle spinning solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of intact cell walls, purified PG, and purified WTA. The spectra reveal the clear molecular differences in the two polymers and enable quantification of PG and WTA in isolated cell walls, an attractive alternative to estimating teichoic acid content from a phosphate analysis of completely pyrolyzed cell walls. Furthermore, we discovered that unique PG and WTA spectral signatures could be identified in whole-cell NMR spectra and used to compare PG and WTA levels among intact bacterial cell samples. The distinguishing whole-cell 13C NMR contributions associated with PG include the GlcNAc-MurNAc sugar carbons and glycyl α-carbons. WTA contributes carbons from the phosphoribitol backbone. Distinguishing 15N spectral signatures include glycyl amide nitrogens in PG and the esterified d-alanyl amine nitrogens in WTA. 13C NMR analysis was performed with samples at natural abundance and included 10 whole-cell sample comparisons. Changes consistent with altered PG and WTA content were detected in whole-cell spectra of bacteria harvested at different growth times and in cells treated with tunicamycin. This use of whole-cell NMR provides quantitative parameters of composition in the context of whole-cell activity.

Spectral comparisons of mammalian cells and intact organelles by solid-state NMR

Whole-cell protein profiling, spatial localization, and quantification of activities such as gene transcription and protein translation are possible with modern biochemical and biophysical techniques. Yet, addressing questions of overall compositional changes within a cell - capturing the relative amounts of protein and ribosomal RNA levels and lipid content simultaneously - would require extractions and purifications with caveats due to isolation yields and detection methods. A holistic view of cellular composition would aid in the study of cellular composition and function. Here, solid state NMR is used to identify ¹³C NMR signatures for cellular organelles in HeLa cells without the use of any isotopic labeling. Comparisons are made with carbon spectra of subcellular assemblies including DNA, lipids, ribosomes, nuclei and mitochondria. Whole-cell comparisons are made with different mammalian cells lines, with red blood cells that lack nuclei and organelles, and with Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Furthermore, treatment of mammalian cells with cycloheximide, a commonly used protein synthesis inhibitor, revealed unanticipated changes consistent with a significant increase in protein glycosylation, obvious at the whole cell level. Thus, we demonstrate that solid-state NMR serves as a unique analytical tool to catalog and compare the ratios of distinct carbon types in cells and serves as a discovery tool to reveal the workings of inhibitors such as cycloheximide on whole-cell biochemistry.

Mechanistic Basis for ATP-Dependent Inhibition of Glutamine Synthetase by Tabtoxinine-β-lactam

Tabtoxinine-β-lactam (TβL), also known as wildfire toxin, is a time- and ATP-dependent inhibitor of glutamine synthetase produced by plant pathogenic strains of Pseudomonas syringae. Here we demonstrate that recombinant glutamine synthetase from Escherichia coli phosphorylates the C3-hydroxyl group of the TβL 3-(S)-hydroxy-β-lactam (3-HβL) warhead. Phosphorylation of TβL generates a stable, noncovalent enzyme-ADP-inhibitor complex that resembles the glutamine synthetase tetrahedral transition state. The TβL β-lactam ring remains intact during enzyme inhibition, making TβL mechanistically distinct from traditional β-lactam antibiotics such as penicillin. Our findings could enable the design of new 3-HβL transition state inhibitors targeting enzymes in the ATP-dependent carboxylate-amine ligase superfamily with broad therapeutic potential in many disease areas.

NMR of Macromolecular Assemblies and Machines at 1 GHz and Beyond: New Transformative Opportunities for Molecular Structural Biology

As a result of profound gains in sensitivity and resolution afforded by ultrahigh magnetic fields, transformative applications in the fields of structural biology and materials science are being realized. The development of dual low temperature superconducting (LTS)/high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets has enabled the achievement of magnetic fields above 1 GHz (23.5 T), which will open doors to an unprecedented new range of applications. In this contribution, we discuss the promise of ultrahigh field magnetic resonance. We highlight several methodological developments pertinent at high-magnetic fields including measurement of 1H-1H distances and 1H chemical shift anisotropy in the solid state as well as studies of quadrupolar nuclei such as 17O. Higher magnetic fields have advanced heteronuclear detection in solution NMR, valuable for applications including metabolomics and disordered proteins, as well as expanded use of proton detection in the solid state in conjunction with ultrafast magic angle spinning. We also present several recent applications to structural studies of the AP205 bacteriophage, the M2 channel from Influenza A, and biomaterials such as human bone. Gains in sensitivity and resolution from increased field strengths will enable advanced applications of NMR spectroscopy including in vivo studies of whole cells and intact virions.

Surface proteins and the formation of biofilms by Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus biofilms pose a serious clinical threat as reservoirs for persistent infections. Despite this clinical significance, the composition and mechanism of formation of S. aureus biofilms are unknown. To address these problems, we used solid-state NMR to examine S. aureus (SA113), a strong biofilm-forming strain. We labeled whole cells and cell walls of planktonic cells, young biofilms formed for 12-24h after stationary phase, and more mature biofilms formed for up to 60h after stationary phase. All samples were labeled either by (i) [¹⁵N]glycine and l-[1-¹³C]threonine, or in separate experiments, by (ii) l-[2-¹³C,¹⁵N]leucine. We then measured ¹³C-¹⁵N direct bonds by C{N} rotational-echo double resonance (REDOR). The increase in peptidoglycan stems that have bridges connected to a surface protein was determined directly by a cell-wall double difference (biofilm REDOR difference minus planktonic REDOR difference). This procedure eliminates errors arising from differences in ¹⁵N isotopic enrichments and from the routing of ¹³C label from threonine degradation to glycine. For both planktonic cells and the mature biofilm, 20% of pentaglycyl bridges are not cross-linked and are potential surface-protein attachment sites. None of these sites has a surface protein attached in the planktonic cells, but one-fourth have a surface protein attached in the mature biofilm. Moreover, the leucine-label shows that the concentration of β-strands in leucine-rich regions doubles in the mature biofilm. Thus, a primary event in establishing a S. aureus biofilm is extensive decoration of the cell surface with surface proteins that are linked covalently to the cell wall and promote cell-cell adhesion.

Characterization of the tertiary structure of the peptidoglycan of Enterococcus faecalis

Solid-state NMR spectra of whole cells and isolated cell walls of Enterococcus faecalis grown in media containing combinations of 13C and 15N specific labels in d- and l-alanine and l-lysine (in the presence of an alanine racemase inhibitor alaphosphin) have been used to determine the composition and architecture of the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The compositional variables include the concentrations of (i) peptidoglycan stems without bridges, (ii) d-alanylated wall teichoic acid, (iii) cross-links, and (iv) uncross-linked tripeptide and tetra/pentapeptide stems. Connectivities of l-alanyl carbonyl‑carbon bridge labels to d-[3-13C]alanyl and l-[ε-15N]lysyl stem labels prove that the peptidoglycan of E. faecalis has the same hybrid short-bridge architecture (with a mix of parallel and perpendicular stems) as the FemA mutant of Staphylococcus aureus, in which the cross-linked stems are perpendicular to one another and the cross-linking is close to the ideal 50% value. This is the first determination of the cell-wall chemical and geometrical architecture of whole cells of E. faecalis, a major source of nosocomial infections worldwide.

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy as a Tool for Assessing Macromolecular Structure and Function in Living Cells

Investigating the structure, modification, interaction, and function of biomolecules in their native cellular environment leads to physiologically relevant knowledge about their mechanisms, which will benefit drug discovery and design. In recent years, nuclear and electron magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has emerged as a useful tool for elucidating the structure and function of biomacromolecules, including proteins, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates in living cells at atomic resolution. In this review, we summarize the progress and future of in-cell NMR as it is applied to proteins, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates.

Fungal biofilm composition and opportunities in drug discovery

Biofilm infections are exceptionally recalcitrant to antimicrobial treatment or clearance by host immune responses. Within biofilms, microbes form adherent multicellular communities that are embedded in an extracellular matrix. Many prescribed antifungal drugs are not effective against biofilm infections owing to several protective factors including poor diffusion of drugs through biofilms as well as specific drug-matrix interactions. Despite the key roles that biofilms play in infections, there is little quantitative information about their composition and structural complexity because of the analytical challenge of studying these dense networks using traditional techniques. Within this review, recent work to elucidate fungal biofilm composition is discussed, with particular attention given to the challenges of annotation and quantification of matrix composition.

Bacterial cell wall composition and the influence of antibiotics by cell-wall and whole-cell NMR

The ability to characterize bacterial cell-wall composition and structure is crucial to understanding the function of the bacterial cell wall, determining drug modes of action and developing new-generation therapeutics. Solid-state NMR has emerged as a powerful tool to quantify chemical composition and to map cell-wall architecture in bacteria and plants, even in the context of unperturbed intact whole cells. In this review, we discuss solid-state NMR approaches to define peptidoglycan composition and to characterize the modes of action of old and new antibiotics, focusing on examples in Staphylococcus aureus. We provide perspectives regarding the selected NMR strategies as we describe the exciting and still-developing cell-wall and whole-cell NMR toolkit. We also discuss specific discoveries regarding the modes of action of vancomycin analogues, including oritavancin, and briefly address the reconsideration of the killing action of β-lactam antibiotics. In such chemical genetics approaches, there is still much to be learned from perturbations enacted by cell-wall assembly inhibitors, and solid-state NMR approaches are poised to address questions of cell-wall composition and assembly in S. aureus and other organisms.

The Carboxyl Terminus of Eremomycin Facilitates Binding to the Non-d-Ala-d-Ala Segment of the Peptidoglycan Pentapeptide Stem

Glycopeptide antibiotics inhibit cell wall biosynthesis in Gram-positive bacteria by targeting the peptidoglycan (PG) pentapeptide stem structure (l-Ala-d-iso-Gln-l-Lys-d-Ala-d-Ala). Structures of the glycopeptide complexed with a PG stem mimic have shown that the d-Ala-d-Ala segment is the primary drug binding site; however, biochemical evidence suggests that the glycopeptide-PG interaction involves more than d-Ala-d-Ala binding. Interactions of the glycopeptide with the non-d-Ala-d-Ala segment of the PG stem were investigated using solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). LCTA-1421, a double (15)N-enriched eremomycin derivative with a C-terminal [(15)N]amide and [(15)N]Asn amide, was complexed with whole cells of Staphylococcus aureus grown in a defined medium containing l-[3-(13)C]Ala and d-[1-(13)C]Ala in the presence of alanine racemase inhibitor alaphosphin. (13)C{(15)N} and (15)N{(13)C} rotational-echo double-resonance (REDOR) NMR measurements determined the (13)C-(15)N internuclear distances between the [(15)N]Asn amide of LCTA-1421 and the (13)C atoms of the bound d-[1-(13)C]Ala-d-[1-(13)C]Ala to be 5.1 and 4.8 Å, respectively. These measurements also determined the distance from the C-terminal [(15)N]amide of LCTA-1421 to the l-[3-(13)C]Ala of PG to be 3.5 Å. The measured REDOR distance constraints position the C-terminus of the glycopeptide in the proximity of the l-Ala of the PG, suggesting that the C-terminus of the glycopeptide interacts near the l-Ala segment of the PG stem. In vivo REDOR measurements provided structural insight into how C-terminally modified glycopeptide antibiotics operate.

Spectral snapshots of bacterial cell-wall composition and the influence of antibiotics by whole-cell NMR

Gram-positive bacteria surround themselves with a thick cell wall that is essential to cell survival and is a major target of antibiotics. Quantifying alterations in cell-wall composition are crucial to evaluating drug modes of action, particularly important for human pathogens that are now resistant to multiple antibiotics such as Staphylococcus aureus. Macromolecular and whole-cell NMR spectroscopy allowed us to observe the full panel of carbon and nitrogen pools in S. aureus cell walls and intact whole cells. We discovered that one-dimensional (13)C and (15)N NMR spectra, together with spectroscopic selections based on dipolar couplings as well as two-dimensional spin-diffusion measurements, revealed the dramatic compositional differences between intact cells and cell walls and allowed the identification of cell-wall signatures in whole-cell samples. Furthermore, the whole-cell NMR approach exhibited the sensitivity to detect distinct compositional changes due to treatment with the antibiotics fosfomycin (a cell-wall biosynthesis inhibitor) and chloramphenicol (a protein synthesis inhibitor). Whole cells treated with fosfomycin exhibited decreased peptidoglycan contributions while those treated with chloramphenicol contained a higher percentage of peptidoglycan as cytoplasmic protein content was reduced. Thus, general antibiotic modes of action can be identified by profiling the total carbon pools in intact whole cells.

Frequency-selective REDOR and spin-diffusion relays in uniformly labeled whole cells

Solid-state NMR is a powerful and non-perturbative method to measure and define chemical composition and architecture in bacterial cell walls, even in the context of whole cells. Most NMR studies on whole cells have used selectively labeled samples. Here, we introduce an NMR sequence relay using frequency-selective REDOR (fsREDOR) and spin diffusion elements to probe a unique amine contribution in uniformly (13)C- and (15)N-labeled Staphylococcus aureus whole cells that we attribute to the d-alanine of teichoic acid. In addition to the primary peptidoglycan structural scaffold, cell walls can contain significant amounts of teichoic acid that contribute to cell-wall function. When incorporated into teichoic acid, d-alanine is present as an ester, connected via its carbonyl to a ribitol carbon, and thus has a free amine. Teichoic acid d-Ala is removed during cell-wall isolations and can only be detected in the context of whole cells. The sequence presented here begins with fsREDOR and a chemical shift evolution period for 2D data acquisition, followed by DARR spin diffusion and then an additional fsREDOR period. fsREDOR elements were used for (13)C observation to avoid complications from (13)C-(13)C couplings due to uniform labeling and for (15)N dephasing to achieve selectivity in the nitrogens serving as dephasers. The results show that the selected amine nitrogen of interest is near to teichoic acid ribitol carbons and also the methyl group carbon associated with alanine. In addition, its carbonyl is not significantly dephased by amide nitrogens, consistent with the expected microenvironment around teichoic acid.

Progression of NMR studies of membrane-active peptides from lipid bilayers to live cells

Understanding the structure of membrane-active peptides faces many challenges associated with the development of appropriate model membrane systems as the peptide structure depends strongly on the lipid environment. This perspective provides a brief overview of the approach taken to study antimicrobial and amyloid peptides in phospholipid bilayers using oriented bilayers and magic angle spinning techniques. In particular, Boltzmann statistics REDOR and maximum entropy analysis of spinning side bands are used to analyse systems where multiple states of peptide or lipid molecules may co-exist. We propose that in future, rather than model membranes, structural studies in whole cells are feasible.

REDOR constraints on the peptidoglycan lattice architecture of Staphylococcus aureus and its FemA mutant

The peptidoglycan of Gram-positive bacteria consists of glycan chains with attached short peptide stems cross-linked to one another by glycyl bridges. The bridge of Staphylococcus aureus has five glycyl units and that of its FemA mutant has one. These long- and short-bridge cross-links create totally different cell-wall architectures. S. aureus and its FemA mutant grown in the presence of an alanine-racemase inhibitor were labeled with d-[1-¹³C]alanine, l-[3-¹³C]alanine, [2-¹³C]glycine, and l-[5-¹⁹F]lysine to characterize some details of the peptidoglycan tertiary structure. Rotational-echo double-resonance (REDOR) NMR of isolated cell walls was used to measure internuclear distances between ¹³C-labeled alanines and ¹⁹F-labeled lysine incorporated in the peptidoglycan. The alanyl ¹³C labels in the parent strain were preselected for C{F} and C{P} REDOR measurement by their proximity to the glycine label using ¹³C¹³C spin diffusion. The observed ¹³C¹³C and ¹³C³¹P distances are consistent with a tightly packed architecture containing only parallel stems in a repeating structural motif within the peptidoglycan. Dante selection of d-alanine and l-alanine frequencies followed by ¹³C¹³C spin diffusion rules out scrambling of carbon labels. Cell walls of FemA were also labeled by a combination of d-[1-¹³C]alanine and l-[¹⁵N]alanine. Proximity of chains was measured by C{N} and N{C} REDOR distances and asymptotic plateaus, and both were consistent with a mixed-geometry model. Binding of an ¹⁹F-labeled eremomycin analog in the FemA cell wall matches that of binding to the parent-strain cell wall and reveals the proximity of parallel stems in the alternating parallel-perpendicular mixed-geometry model for the FemA peptidoglycan lattice.

Peptidoglycan architecture of Gram-positive bacteria by solid-state NMR

Peptidoglycan is an essential component of cell wall in Gram-positive bacteria with unknown architecture. In this review, we summarize solid-state NMR approaches to address some of the unknowns in the Gram-positive bacteria peptidoglycan architecture: 1) peptidoglycan backbone conformation, 2) PG-lattice structure, 3) variations in the peptidoglycan architecture and composition, 4) the effects of peptidoglycan bridge-length on the peptidoglycan architecture in Fem mutants, 5) the orientation of glycan strands with respect to the membrane, and 6) the relationship between the peptidoglycan structure and the glycopeptide antibiotic mode of action. Solid-state NMR analyses of Staphylococcus aureus cell wall show that peptidoglycan chains are surprisingly ordered and densely packed. The peptidoglycan disaccharide backbone adopts 4-fold screw helical symmetry with the disaccharide unit periodicity of 40Å. Peptidoglycan lattice in the S. aureus cell wall is formed by cross-linked PG stems that have parallel orientations. The structural characterization of Fem-mutants of S. aureus with varying lengths of bridge structures suggests that the PG-bridge length is an important determining factor for the PG architecture.

Structural variations of the cell wall precursor lipid II and their influence on binding and activity of the lipoglycopeptide antibiotic oritavancin

Oritavancin is a semisynthetic derivative of the glycopeptide antibiotic chloroeremomycin with activity against Gram-positive pathogens, including vancomycin-resistant staphylococci and enterococci. Compared to vancomycin, oritavancin is characterized by the presence of two additional residues, a hydrophobic 4'-chlorobiphenyl methyl moiety and a 4-epi-vancosamine substituent, which is also present in chloroeremomycin. Here, we show that oritavancin and its des-N-methylleucyl variant (des-oritavancin) effectively inhibit lipid I- and lipid II-consuming peptidoglycan biosynthesis reactions in vitro. In contrast to that for vancomycin, the binding affinity of oritavancin to the cell wall precursor lipid II appears to involve, in addition to the D-Ala-D-Ala terminus, other species-specific binding sites of the lipid II molecule, i.e., the crossbridge and D-isoglutamine in position 2 of the lipid II stem peptide, both characteristic for a number of Gram-positive pathogens, including staphylococci and enterococci. Using purified lipid II and modified lipid II variants, we studied the impact of these modifications on the binding of oritavancin and compared it to those of vancomycin, chloroeremomycin, and des-oritavancin. Analysis of the binding parameters revealed that additional intramolecular interactions of oritavancin with the peptidoglycan precursor appear to compensate for the loss of a crucial hydrogen bond in vancomycin-resistant strains, resulting in enhanced binding affinity. Augmenting previous findings, we show that amidation of the lipid II stem peptide predominantly accounts for the increased binding of oritavancin to the modified intermediates ending in D-Ala-D-Lac. Corroborating our conclusions, we further provide biochemical evidence for the phenomenon of the antagonistic effects of mecA and vanA resistance determinants in Staphylococcus aureus, thus partially explaining the low frequency of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) acquiring high-level vancomycin resistance.

REDOR NMR for drug discovery

Rotational-echo double-resonance (REDOR) NMR is a powerful and versatile solid-state NMR measurement that has been recruited to elucidate drug modes of action and to drive the design of new therapeutics. REDOR has been implemented to examine composition, structure, and dynamics in diverse macromolecular and whole-cell systems, including taxol-bound microtubules, enzyme-cofactor-inhibitor ternary complexes, and antibiotic-whole-cell complexes. The REDOR approach involves the integrated design of specific isotopic labeling strategies and the selection of appropriate REDOR experiments. By way of example, this digest illustrates the versatility of the REDOR approach, with an emphasis on the practical considerations of experimental design and data interpretation.

Staphylococcus aureus peptidoglycan stem packing by rotational-echo double resonance NMR spectroscopy

Staphylococcus aureus grown in the presence of an alanine-racemase inhibitor was labeled with d-[1-(13)C]alanine and l-[(15)N]alanine to characterize some details of the peptidoglycan tertiary structure. Rotational-echo double-resonance NMR of intact whole cells was used to measure internuclear distances between (13)C and (15)N of labeled amino acids incorporated in the peptidoglycan, and from those labels to (19)F of a glycopeptide drug specifically bound to the peptidoglycan. The observed (13)C-(15)N average distance of 4.1-4.4 Å between d- and l-alanines in nearest-neighbor peptide stems is consistent with a local, tightly packed, parallel-stem architecture for a repeating structural motif within the peptidoglycan of S. aureus.

Locations of the hydrophobic side chains of lipoglycopeptides bound to the peptidoglycan of Staphylococcus aureus

Glycopeptides whose aminosugars have been modified by attachment of hydrophobic side chains are frequently active against vancomycin-resistant microorganisms. We have compared the conformations of six such fluorinated glycopeptides (with side chains of varying length) complexed to cell walls labeled with d-[1-(13)C]alanine, [1-(13)C]glycine, and l-[ε-(15)N]lysine in whole cells of Staphylococcus aureus. The internuclear distances from (19)F of the bound drug to the (13)C and (15)N labels of the peptidoglycan, and to the natural abundance (31)P of lipid membranes and teichoic acids, were determined by rotational-echo double resonance NMR. The drugs did not dimerize, and their side chains did not form membrane anchors but instead became essential parts of secondary binding to pentaglycyl bridge segments of the cell-wall peptidoglycan.

The isotridecanyl side chain of plusbacin-A3 is essential for the transglycosylase inhibition of peptidoglycan biosynthesis

Plusbacin-A3 (pb-A3) is a cyclic lipodepsipeptide that exhibits antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant Gram-positive pathogens. Plusbacin-A3 is thought not to enter the cell cytoplasm, and its lipophilic isotridecanyl side chain is presumed to insert into the membrane bilayer, thereby facilitating either lipid II binding or some form of membrane disruption. Analogues of pb-A3, [(2)H]pb-A3 and deslipo-pb-A3, were synthesized to test membrane insertion as a key to the mode of action. [(2)H]pb-A3 has an isotopically (2)H-labeled isopropyl subunit of the lipid side chain, and deslipo-pb-A3 is missing the isotridecanyl side chain. Both analogues have the pb-A3 core structure. The loss of antimicrobial activity in deslipo-pb-A3 showed that the isotridecanyl side chain is crucial for the mode of action of the drug. However, rotational-echo double-resonance nuclear magnetic resonance characterization of [(2)H]pb-A3 bound to [1-(13)C]glycine-labeled whole cells of Staphylococcus aureus showed that the isotridecanyl side chain does not insert into the lipid membrane but instead is found in the staphylococcal cell wall, positioned near the pentaglycyl cross-bridge of the cell-wall peptidoglycan. Addition of [(2)H]pb-A3 during the growth of S. aureus resulted in the accumulation of Park's nucleotide, consistent with the inhibition of the transglycosylation step of peptidoglycan biosynthesis.

Never take candy from a stranger: the role of the bacterial glycome in host–pathogen interactions

With the comprehensive study and complete sequencing of the Haemophilus influenzae genome in 1995 came the term ‘genomics’ and the beginning of the ‘omics’ era. Since this time, several analogous fields, such as transcriptomics and proteomics, have emerged. While growth and advancement in these fields have increased understanding of microbial virulence, the study of bacterial glycomes is still in its infancy and little is known concerning their role in host–pathogen interactions. Bacterial glycomics is challenging owing to the diversity of glyco-conjugate molecules, vast array of unusual sugars and limited number of analytical approaches available. However, recent advances in glycomics technologies offer the potential for exploration and characterization of both the structures and functions of components of bacterial glycomes in a systematic manner. Such characterization is a prerequisite for discerning the role of bacterial glycans in the interaction between host defences and bacterial virulence factors.

Conformation of the phosphate D-alanine zwitterion in bacterial teichoic acid from nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

The conformation of d-alanine (d-Ala) groups of bacterial teichoic acid is a central, yet untested, paradigm of microbiology. The d-Ala binds via the C-terminus, thereby allowing the amine to exist as a free cationic NH(3)(+) group with the ability to form a contact ion pair with the nearby anionic phosphate group. This conformation hinders metal chelation by the phosphate because the zwitterion pair is charge neutral. To the contrary, the repulsion of cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs) is attributed to the presence of the d-Ala cation; thus the ion pair does not form in this model. Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has been used to measure the distance between amine and phosphate groups within cell wall fragments of Bacillus subtilis. The bacteria were grown on media containing (15)N d-Ala and beta-chloroalanine racemase inhibitor. The rotational-echo double-resonance (REDOR) pulse sequence was used to measure the internuclear dipolar coupling, and the results demonstrate (1) the metal-free amine-to-phosphate distance is 4.4 A and (2) the amine-to-phosphate distance increases to 5.4 A in the presence of Mg(2+) ions. As a result, the zwitterion exists in a nitrogen-oxygen ion pair configuration providing teichoic acid with a positive charge to repel CAMPs. Additionally, the amine of d-Ala does not prevent magnesium chelation in contradiction to the prevailing view of teichoic acids in metal binding. Thus, the NMR-based description of teichoic acid structure resolves the contradictory models, advances the basic understanding of cell wall biochemistry, and provides possible insight into the creation of new antibiotic therapies.

Vancomycin analogs: Seeking improved binding of d-Ala-d-Ala and d-Ala-d-Lac peptides by side-chain and backbone modifications

In order to seek vancomycin analogs with improved performance against VanA and VanB resistant bacterial strains, extensive computational investigations have been performed to examine the effects of side-chain and backbone modifications. Changes in binding affinities for tripeptide cell-wall precursor mimics, Ac(2)-l-Lys-d-Ala-d-Ala (3) and Ac(2)-l-Lys-d-Ala-d-Lac (4), with vancomycin analogs were computed with Monte Carlo/free energy perturbation (MC/FEP) calculations. Replacements of the 3-hydroxyl group in residue 7 with small alkyl or alkoxy groups, which improve contacts with the methyl side chain of the ligands'd-Ala residue, are predicted to be the most promising to enhance binding for both ligands. The previously reported amine backbone modification as in 5 is shown to complement the hydrophobic modifications for binding monoacetylated tripeptides. In addition, replacement of the hydroxyl groups in residues 5 and 7 by fluorine is computed to have negligible impact on binding the tripeptides, though it may be pharmacologically advantageous.

Vancomycin and oritavancin have different modes of action in Enterococcus faecium

The increasing frequency of Enterococcus faecium isolates with multidrug resistance is a serious clinical problem given the severely limited number of therapeutic options available to treat these infections. Oritavancin is a promising new alternative in clinical development that has potent antimicrobial activity against both staphylococcal and enterococcal vancomycin-resistant pathogens. Using solid-state NMR to detect changes in the cell-wall structure and peptidoglycan precursors of whole cells after antibiotic-induced stress, we report that vancomycin and oritavancin have different modes of action in E. faecium. Our results show the accumulation of peptidoglycan precursors after vancomycin treatment, consistent with transglycosylase inhibition, but no measurable difference in cross-linking. In contrast, after oritavancin exposure, we did not observe the accumulation of peptidoglycan precursors. Instead, the number of cross-links is significantly reduced, showing that oritavancin primarily inhibits transpeptidation. We propose that the activity of oritavancin is the result of a secondary binding interaction with the E. faecium peptidoglycan. The hypothesis is supported by results from (13)C{(19)F} rotational-echo double-resonance (REDOR) experiments on whole cells enriched with l-[1-(13)C]lysine and complexed with desleucyl [(19)F]oritavancin. These experiments establish that an oritavancin derivative with a damaged d-Ala-d-Ala binding pocket still binds to E. faecium peptidoglycan. The (13)C{(19)F} REDOR dephasing maximum indicates that the secondary binding site of oritavancin is specific to nascent and template peptidoglycan. We conclude that the inhibition of transpeptidation by oritavancin in E. faecium is the result of the large number of secondary binding sites relative to the number of primary binding sites.

Staphylococcus aureus peptidoglycan tertiary structure from carbon-13 spin diffusion

The cell-wall peptidoglycan of Staphylococcus aureus is a heterogeneous, highly cross-linked polymer of unknown tertiary structure. We have partially characterized this structure by measuring spin diffusion from (13)C labels in pentaglycyl cross-linking segments to natural-abundance (13)C in the surrounding intact cell walls. The measurements were performed using a version of centerband-only detection of exchange (CODEX). The cell walls were isolated from S. aureus grown in media containing [1-(13)C]glycine. The CODEX spin diffusion rates established that the pentaglycyl bridge of one peptidoglycan repeat unit of S. aureus is within 5 A of the glycan chain of another repeat unit. This surprising proximity is interpreted in terms of a model for the peptidoglycan lattice in which all peptide stems in a plane perpendicular to the glycan mainchain are parallel to one another.

Characterization of peptidoglycan in fem-deletion mutants of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by solid-state NMR

Compositional analysis of the peptidoglycan (PG) of a wild-type methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and its fem-deletion mutants has been performed on whole cells and cell walls using stable-isotope labeling and rotational-echo double-resonance NMR. The labels included [1-(13)C,(15)N]glycine and l-[epsilon-(15)N]lysine (for a direct measure of the number of glycyl residues in the bridging segment), [1-(13)C]glycine and l-[epsilon-(15)N]lysine (concentration of bridge links), and d-[1-(13)C]alanine and [(15)N]glycine (concentrations of cross-links and wall teichoic acids). The bridging segment length changed from 5.0 glycyl residues (wild-type strain) to 2.5 +/- 0.1 (FemB) with modest changes in cross-link and bridge-link concentrations. This accurate in situ measurement for the FemB mutant indicates a heterogeneous PG structure with 25% monoglycyl and 75% triglycyl bridges. When the bridging segment was reduced to a single glycyl residue 1.0 +/- 0.1 (FemA), the level of cross-linking decreased by more than 20%, resulting in a high concentration of open N-terminal glycyl segments.

Vancomycin forms ligand-mediated supramolecular complexes

The emergence of resistance to vancomycin and related glycopeptide antibiotics is spurring efforts to develop new antimicrobial therapeutics. High-resolution structural information about antibiotic-ligand recognition should prove valuable in the rational design of improved drugs. We have determined the X-ray crystal structure of the complex of vancomycin with N-acetyl-D-Ala-D-Ala, a mimic of the natural muramyl peptide target, and refined this structure at a resolution of 1.3 A to R and R(free) values of 0.172 and 0.195, respectively. The crystal asymmetric unit contains three back-back vancomycin dimers; two of these dimers participate in ligand-mediated face-face interactions that produce an infinite chain of molecules running throughout the crystal. The third dimer packs against the side of a face-face interface in a tight "side-side" interaction that involves both polar contacts and burial of hydrophobic surface. The trimer of dimers found in the asymmetric unit is essentially identical to complexes seen in three other crystal structures of glycopeptide antibiotics complexed with peptide ligands. These four structures are derived from crystals belonging to different space groups, suggesting that the trimer of dimers may not be simply a crystal packing artifact and prompting us to ask if ligand-mediated oligomerization could be observed in solution. Using size-exclusion chromatography, dynamic light scattering, and small-angle X-ray scattering, we demonstrate that vancomycin forms discrete supramolecular complexes in the presence of tripeptide ligands. Size estimates for these complexes are consistent with assemblies containing four to six vancomycin monomers.

Hydrophobic side-chain length determines activity and conformational heterogeneity of a vancomycin derivative bound to the cell wall of Staphylococcus aureus

Disaccharide-modified glycopeptides with hydrophobic side chains are active against vancomycin-resistant enterococci and vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The activity depends on the length of the side chain. The benzyl side chain of N-(4-fluorobenzyl)vancomycin (FBV) has the minimal length sufficient for enhancement in activity against vancomycin-resistant pathogens. The conformation of FBV bound to the peptidoglycan in whole cells of S. aureus has been determined using rotational-echo double resonance NMR by measuring internuclear distances from the (19)F of FBV to (13)C and (15)N labels incorporated into the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The hydrophobic side chain and aglycon of FBV form a cleft around the pentaglycyl bridge. FBV binds heterogeneously to the peptidoglycan as a monomer with the (19)F positioned near the middle of the pentaglycyl bridge, approximately 7 A from the bridge link. This differs from the situation for N-(4-(4-fluorophenyl)benzyl)vancomycin complexed to the peptidoglycan where the (19)F is located at the end of pentaglycyl bridge, 7 A from the cross-link.

Characterization of the peptidoglycan of vancomycin-susceptible Enterococcus faecium

Vancomycin and other antibacterial glycopeptide analogues target the cell wall and affect the enzymatic processes involved with cell-wall biosynthesis. Understanding the structure and organization of the peptidoglycan is the first step in establishing the mode of action of these glycopeptides. We have used solid-state NMR to determine the relative concentrations of stem-links (64%), bridge-links (61%), and cross-links (49%) in the cell walls of vancomycin-susceptible Enterococcus faecium (ATTC 49624). Furthermore, we have determined that in vivo only 7% of the peptidoglycan stems terminate in d-Ala- d-Ala, the well-known vancomycin-binding site. Presumably, d-Ala- d-Ala is cleaved from uncross-linked stems in mature peptidoglycan by an active carboxypeptidase. We believe that most of the few pentapeptide stems ending in d-Ala- d-Ala occur in the template and nascent peptidoglycan strands that are crucial for cell-wall biosynthesis.

Vancomycin derivative with damaged D-Ala-D-Ala binding cleft binds to cross-linked peptidoglycan in the cell wall of Staphylococcus aureus

Des-N-methylleucyl-4-(4-fluorophenyl)benzyl-vancomycin (DFPBV) retains activity against vancomycin-resistant pathogens despite its damaged d-Ala-d-Ala binding cleft. Using solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), a DFPBV binding site in the cell walls of whole cells of Staphylococcus aureus has been identified. The cell walls were labeled with d-[1-(13)C]alanine, [1-(13)C]glycine, and l-[epsilon-(15)N]lysine. Internuclear distances from (19)F of the DFPBV to the (13)C and (15)N labels of the cell-wall peptidoglycan were determined by rotational-echo double-resonance (REDOR) NMR. The (13)C{(19)F} and (15)N{(19)F} REDOR spectra show that, in situ, DFPBV binds to the peptidoglycan as a monomer with its vancosamine hydrophobic side chain positioned near a pentaglycyl bridge. This result suggests that the antimicrobial activity of other vancosamine-modified glycopeptides depends upon both d-Ala-d-Ala stem-terminus recognition (primary binding site) and stem-bridge recognition (secondary binding site).

Oritavancin exhibits dual mode of action to inhibit cell-wall biosynthesis in Staphylococcus aureus

Solid-state NMR measurements performed on intact whole cells of Staphylococcus aureus labeled selectively in vivo have established that des-N-methylleucyl oritavancin (which has antimicrobial activity) binds to the cell-wall peptidoglycan, even though removal of the terminal N-methylleucyl residue destroys the D-Ala-D-Ala binding pocket. By contrast, the des-N-methylleucyl form of vancomycin (which has no antimicrobial activity) does not bind to the cell wall. Solid-state NMR has also determined that oritavancin and vancomycin are comparable inhibitors of transglycosylation, but that oritavancin is a more potent inhibitor of transpeptidation. This combination of effects on cell-wall binding and biosynthesis is interpreted in terms of a recent proposal that oritavancin-like glycopeptides have two cell-wall binding sites: the well-known peptidoglycan D-Ala-D-Ala pentapeptide stem terminus and the pentaglycyl bridging segment. The resulting dual mode of action provides a structural framework for coordinated cell-wall assembly that accounts for the enhanced potency of oritavancin and oritavancin-like analogues against vancomycin-resistant organisms.

Double-quantum filtered rotational-echo double resonance

The homonuclear scalar coupling of a directly bonded 13C-13C pair has been used to create a double-quantum filter (DQF) to remove the natural-abundance 13C background in 13C{15N} rotational-echo double-resonance (REDOR) experiments. The DQF scalar and REDOR dipolar evolution periods are coincident which is important for sensitivity in the event of weak 13C-15N dipolar coupling. Calculated and observed 13C{15N} DQF-REDOR dephasings were in agreement for a test sample of mixed recrystallized labeled alanines. Glycine metabolism in a single uniform-15N soybean leaf labeled for 6 min by 13CO2 was measured quantitatively by 13C{15N} DQF-REDOR with no background interferences.

Structures of Staphylococcus aureus cell-wall complexes with vancomycin, eremomycin, and chloroeremomycin derivatives by 13C{19F} and 15N{19F} rotational-echo double resonance

Solid-state NMR has been used to examine isolated cell walls and intact whole cells of Staphylococcus aureus complexed to five different vancomycin, eremomycin, and chloroeremomycin derivatives. The cell walls and whole cells were specifically labeled with d-[1-(13)C]alanine, or a combination of [1-(13)C]glycine and [epsilon-(15)N]lysine. Each of the bound glycopeptides had a (19)F-labeled substituent at either its C-terminus or its disaccharide position. The (13)C{(19)F} rotational-echo double-resonance (REDOR) dephasing for the cell-wall (13)C-labeled bridging pentaglycyl segment connecting a glycopeptide-complexed peptidoglycan stem with its neighboring stem indicates that the fluorine labels for all bound glycopeptides are positioned at one or the other end of the bridge. An exception is N'-(p-trifluoromethoxybenzyl)chloroeremomycin, whose hydrophobic substituent differs in length by one phenyl group compared to that of oritavancin, N'-4-[(4-chlorophenyl)benzyl)]chloroeremomycin. For this drug, the fluorine label is near the middle of the pentaglycyl segment. (15)N{(19)F} REDOR dephasing shows the proximity of the fluorine to the bridge-link site of the pentaglycyl bridge for C-terminus-substituted moieties and the cross-link site for disaccharide-substituted moieties. Full-echo REDOR spectra of cell-wall complexes from cells labeled by d-[1-(13)C]alanine (in the presence of an alanine racemase inhibitor) reveal three different carbonyl carbon chemical-shift environments, arising from the d-Ala-d-Ala binding site and the d-Ala-Gly-1 cross-link site. The REDOR results indicate a single fluorine dephasing center in each peptidoglycan complex. Molecular models of the mature cell-wall complexes that are consistent with internuclear distances obtained from (13)C{(19)F} and (15)N{(19)F} REDOR dephasing allow a correlation of structure and antimicrobial activity of the glycopeptides.