Multilevel Regulation of Peptidoglycan Dynamics in Bacteria: From Molecular Mechanisms to Applied Perspectives

Peptidoglycan, a crucial constituent of the bacterial cell envelope, is essential for maintaining cellular integrity and morphology. Elucidating the regulatory processes that coordinate its biosynthesis and turnover not only addresses a fundamental question in microbiology but also reveals promising targets for antimicrobial drug development. This review summarizes recent advances in understanding the mechanisms governing peptidoglycan regulation, emphasizing the coordinated control of synthetic and hydrolytic pathways through multilayered networks that include transcriptional regulators, two-component systems, non-coding small RNAs, scaffold proteins, and protein–protein interactions. Building on these insights, we discuss the application of these regulatory principles in industrial biotechnology and the development of next-generation antimicrobial agents. Finally, we outline future research directions aimed at providing novel strategies to combat bacterial resistance and enhancing microbial platform engineering.