GpsB

GpsB is an essential bacterial protein in Neisseria gonorrhoeae that plays a critical role in coordinating cell division and cell wall synthesis. It acts as a molecular scaffold or interaction hub, facilitating the recruitment and organization of key enzymes, such as penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), to the site of division (the septum). Recent research has identified GpsB as a novel and promising therapeutic target because its depletion leads to severe defects in cell morphology, including cell enlargement and lysis, effectively halting bacterial proliferation. As N. gonorrhoeae continues to develop resistance to existing antibiotics, targeting GpsB offers a potential pathway for a new class of antimicrobials that disrupt the fundamental machinery of bacterial cytokinesis. Its role is particularly vital in coccoid bacteria, where it helps manage the complex geometry of division in multiple planes.

Other names

General protein secretion BDivIVA-like proteinCell division protein GpsB