In E. coli, alternate peptidoglycan crosslinking reactions carried out by the L,D-transpeptidase YcbB can lead to beta-lactam resistance. Here, Caveney et al. solve the crystal structure of YcbB and shed light into its mechanism of action and into YcbB-mediated antibiotic resistance.
- Nathanael A. Caveney
- Guillermo Caballero
- Natalie C. J. Strynadka