The bacterial peptidoglycan layer forms a complex mesh-like structure that surrounds the cell, imparting rigidity to withstand cytoplasmic turgor and the ability to tolerate stress. As peptidoglycan has been the target of numerous clinically successful antimicrobials such as penicillin, the biosynthesis, remodeling and recycling of this polymer has been the subject of much interest. Herein, we review recent advances in the understanding of peptidoglycan biosynthesis and remodeling in a variety of different organisms. In order for bacterial cells to grow and divide, remodeling of cross-linked peptidoglycan is essential hence, we also summarize the activity of important peptidoglycan hydrolases and how their functions differ in various species. There is a growing body of evidence highlighting complex regulatory mechanisms for peptidoglycan metabolism including protein interactions, phosphorylation and protein degradation and we summarize key recent findings in this regard. Finally, we provide an overview of peptidoglycan recycling and how components of this pathway mediate resistance to drugs. In the face of growing antimicrobial resistance, these recent advances are expected to uncover new drug targets in peptidoglycan metabolism, which can be used to develop novel therapies.

细菌肽聚糖层形成围绕细胞的复杂网状结构，赋予刚性以抵抗细胞质膨胀和耐受压力的能力。由于肽聚糖已成为许多临床上成功的抗微生物药物如青霉素的靶标，因此对该聚合物的生物合成，重塑和再循环一直是引起人们广泛关注的主题。本文中，我们综述了肽聚糖在多种不同生物中的生物合成和重塑方面的最新进展。为了使细菌细胞生长和分裂，交联肽聚糖的重塑是必不可少的，因此，我们还总结了重要的肽聚糖水解酶的活性及其在各种物种中的功能差异。越来越多的证据强调肽聚糖代谢的复杂调控机制，包括蛋白质相互作用，磷酸化和蛋白质降解，我们总结了这方面的最新发现。最后，我们提供了肽聚糖回收的概述，以及该途径的成分如何介导对药物的耐药性。面对日益增长的抗菌素耐药性，这些最新进展有望在肽聚糖代谢中发现新的药物靶标，这些靶标可用于开发新的疗法。