Patent ID: 7419788

Claim:
A method of screening for potential anti-bacterial agents which comprises: (1) providing a membrane preparation obtained from a bacterial strain, wherein the membrane preparation is deficient for peptidoglycan transpeptidase activity; (2) preparing a reaction mixture comprising the membrane preparation, a UDP-N-acetylmuramylpentapeptide, radiolabelled UDP-N-acetyl glucosamine and a source of divalent metal ions; (3) incubating the reaction mixture for a defined period under conditions suitable for uncross-linked peptidoglycan synthesis to occur; (4) adding to the reaction mixture of step (3), (a) a source of peptidoglycan transpeptidase, to allow the synthesis of cross-linked peptidoglycan, and (b) a test compound; (5) contacting the reaction mixture of step (4) with a fluorescer supported by, in or on a suitable substrate, and a detergent for a period of at least 10 minutes; and (6) measuring light energy emitted by the fluorescer which is indicative of the presence of radiolabelled cross-linked peptidoglycan, wherein a decrease in flourescence compared to a control indicates that the test compound is a potential anti-bacterial agent.