The Impacts of Essential Gcp/TsaD Protein on Cell Morphology, Virulence Expression, and Antibiotic Susceptibility in <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>.

Abstract

Our previous studies identified the Gcp/TsaD protein as essential for <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> survival and implicated it in tRNA modification. Here, we demonstrate its broader role in bacterial physiology. Through a morphological analysis, RNA sequencing, network-based bioinformatics, and antibiotic susceptibility testing, we show that Gcp/TsaD influences cell morphology, cell wall integrity, transcriptional regulation, virulence, and antibiotic response. Gcp/TsaD depletion caused reduced cell size and increased cell wall thickness, suggesting its roles in cell division and peptidoglycan biosynthesis. The kinetic transcriptomic analysis revealed widespread changes in gene expression, particularly in the translation and amino acid biosynthesis pathways, supporting its function in maintaining translational fidelity via tRNA modification. Its depletion also upregulated the genes involved in cell envelope biosynthesis, including capsule formation, enhancing resistance to antimicrobial peptides, while downregulating the key virulence genes, indicating a role in pathogenicity. Functionally, the Gcp/TsaD-deficient cells were more susceptible to fosfomycin, reinforcing its importance in cell wall integrity. Together, these findings highlight the multifaceted contribution of Gcp/TsaD to <i>S. aureus</i> physiology and underscore its potential as a therapeutic target, particularly against antibiotic-resistant strains.