Probable O-sialoglycoprotein endopeptidase; Critical mediator involved in the modification of cell wall peptidoglycan synthesis and/or cell division as well as in the positive regulation of the activities of different murein hydrolases. Essential for cell viability. Negatively affects the expression of lrgA. Positively affects cidA expression, maybe indirectly. May be an important chelator of excess zinc. Down- regulation of gcp eliminates penicillin- and vancomycin-caused cell lysis, inhibits several extracellular hydrolase activities, dramatically increasing tolerance to hydrolases a [...] (341 aa)