Molecular Imaging of Isolated DH5α Peptidoglycan Sacculi Identifies the Mechanism of Action of Cell Wall-Inhibiting Antibiotics.

Antibiotic resistance of pathogenic bacteria needs to be urgently addressed by the development of new antibacterial entities. Although the prokaryotic cell wall comprises a valuable target for this purpose, development of novel cell wall-active antibiotics is mostly missing today. This is mainly caused by hindrances in the assessment of isolated enzymes of the co-dependent murein synthesis machineries, e.

AMPK adapts metabolism to developmental energy requirement during dendrite pruning in Drosophila.

To reshape neuronal connectivity in adult stages, Drosophila sensory neurons prune their dendrites during metamorphosis using a genetic degeneration program that is induced by the steroid hormone ecdysone. Metamorphosis is a nonfeeding stage that imposes metabolic constraints on development. We find that AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a regulator of energy homeostasis, is cell-autonomously required for dendrite pruning.