Vancomycin resistance in enterococci: reprogramming of the D-Ala-D-Ala ligases in bacterial peptidoglycan biosynthesis

Vancomycin binds to bacterial cell-wall intermediates to achieve its antibi otic effect. Infections of vancomycin-resistant enterococci are, however, b ecoming an increasing problem; the bacteria are resistant because they synt hesize different cell-wall intermediates. The enzymes involved in cell-wall biosynthesis, therefore, are potential targets for combating this resistan ce. Recent biochemical and crystallographic results are providing mechanist ic and structural details about some of these targets.