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Background
What is PBP2a? PBP2a (penicillin-binding protein 2a; often referred to as the MecA protein) is a bacterial cell-wall enzyme in Staphylococcus aureus that belongs to the penicillin-binding protein (PBP) / DD-transpeptidase family. PBPs catalyze late-stage reactions in peptidoglycan assembly, where peptide crosslinks are formed to strengthen the cell wall.
Localization (research context): PBP2a is typically associated with the cytoplasmic membrane in bacteria, positioning its catalytic region where peptidoglycan synthesis occurs. In many PBPs, an N-terminal membrane anchor helps localize the enzyme while the catalytic domains operate outside the cytosol on peptidoglycan precursors.
Domain / architecture (why fragments matter): High-molecular-weight PBPs, including PBP2a, are commonly described as having an N-terminal region important for membrane association and folding, and a C-terminal transpeptidase domain that contains the catalytic machinery. In research discussions, this catalytic domain is the key unit for studying substrate recognition and β-lactam interaction/inhibition logic.
What this recombinant protein represents: This product is a recombinant PBP2a (MecA) protein fragment corresponding to Ser14–Glu657, expressed in E. coli and supplied as a purified reagent with a C-terminal His tag. Recombinant fragments are commonly used as defined RUO inputs when researchers want a traceable, reproducible protein material for mechanistic studies, inhibitor-binding investigations, or assay system construction without relying on variable endogenous expression.
Biological significance and function
Core role in cell-wall biology: PBPs are central to peptidoglycan crosslinking, a defining process in bacterial growth, morphology, and survival. PBP2a is frequently studied because it can function as a transpeptidase under conditions where other PBPs are compromised.
Why PBP2a is a major research target: PBP2a is widely discussed in antimicrobial-resistance research because it is associated with reduced susceptibility to many β-lactam antibiotics. This makes it a key experimental handle for studying how altered enzyme–inhibitor interactions can preserve peptidoglycan synthesis and maintain growth under β-lactam challenge.
Research framing: In lab settings, PBP2a is used to support mechanistic questions such as how enzyme architecture influences inhibitor access, how substrate-mimetic probes engage the catalytic site, and how specific structural features contribute to “low-affinity” β-lactam behavior compared with more easily inhibited PBPs.
Molecular characteristics relevant to experimental design
- Protein class: Penicillin-binding protein / DD-transpeptidase (peptidoglycan crosslinking enzyme).
- Biological source: Bacterial enzyme from Staphylococcus aureus (PBP2a family, MecA).
- Fragment logic: Ser14–Glu657 represents a large portion of the protein commonly used to capture the catalytic behavior in a soluble recombinant format, while removing or minimizing dependence on full membrane context.
- PTM considerations: PBP2a is a bacterial protein and is not expected to require eukaryotic PTMs (e.g., glycosylation) for core catalytic identity. Expression in E. coli is therefore a typical choice for producing a non-glycosylated recombinant form suitable for many biochemical research questions.
Conformation and activity interpretation: For enzymes that are membrane-associated in vivo, recombinant soluble preparations are best interpreted as defined molecular inputs for controlled experiments. Depending on the specific research question, full in-membrane behavior (local concentration, partner proteins, or spatial organization) may add layers of regulation that are intentionally simplified in recombinant formats.
Expression and purification context (quality transparency for RUO)
Expression system: E. coli.
Region expressed: Ser14–Glu657, with C-His tag.
Purification: Affinity chromatography; reported purity >90% (per your product data).
Format and formulation: Supplied as a lyophilized preparation. Stabilizing excipients and buffered formats are commonly used to maintain solubility and functional integrity for recombinant enzymes during storage and transport. (Operational storage/shipping instructions should remain in your dedicated fields, not here.)
How to think about PBP2a reagents in research
PBP2a is often investigated as a mechanistic model enzyme linking cell-wall biochemistry to β-lactam interaction logic. A recombinant PBP2a fragment provides a traceable reference material for comparing binding behaviors across probes or inhibitors, benchmarking reagent performance, and supporting reproducible assay systems where endogenous expression varies by strain, growth condition, or genetic background.
Because PBP2a sits at the intersection of peptidoglycan synthesis and antibiotic-resistance biology, well-defined recombinant preparations help researchers cleanly separate questions about enzyme-intrinsic properties (binding, active-site accessibility, structural control) from broader cellular variables (transport, cell-wall architecture, stress responses, and pathway redundancy).
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