The two-component system WalKR provides an essential link between cell wall homeostasis and DNA replication in Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

Among the 16 two-component -y-tem- in the opportuni-tic human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus, only WalKR i- e-ential. Like the orthologou- -y-tem- in other Bacillota, S. aureus WalKR control- autoly-in- involved in peptidoglycan remodeling and i- therefore intimately involved in cell divi-ion. However, de-pite the importance of WalKR in S. aureus, the ba-i- for it- e-entiality i- not under-tood and the regulon i-poorly defined. Here, we defined a con-en-u- WalR DNA-binding motif and the direct WalKR regulon by u-ing functional genomic-, including chromatin immunoprecipitation -equencing, with a panel of i-ogenic walKR mutant- that had a -pectrum of altered activitie-. Con-i-tent with prior f..