Making a membrane on the other side of the wall.

TitleMaking a membrane on the other side of the wall.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2017
AuthorsMay, KL, Silhavy, TJ
JournalBiochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids
Volume1862
Issue11
Pagination1386-1393
Date Published2017 Nov
ISSN1388-1981
KeywordsBiological Transport, Cell Membrane, Cell Wall, Cytosol, Gram-Negative Bacteria, Lipid Bilayers, Lipogenesis, Phospholipids
Abstract

<p>The outer membrane (OM) of Gram-negative bacteria is positioned at the frontline of the cell's interaction with its environment and provides a barrier against influx of external toxins while still allowing import of nutrients and excretion of wastes. It is a remarkable asymmetric bilayer with a glycolipid surface-exposed leaflet and a glycerophospholipid inner leaflet. Lipid asymmetry is key to OM barrier function and several different systems actively maintain this lipid asymmetry. All OM components are synthesized in the cytosol before being secreted and assembled into a contiguous membrane on the other side of the cell wall. Work in recent years has uncovered the pathways that transport and assemble most of the OM components. However, our understanding of how phospholipids are delivered to the OM remains notably limited. Here we will review seminal works in phospholipid transfer performed some 40years ago and place more recent insights in their context. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Bacterial Lipids edited by Russell E. Bishop.</p>

DOI10.1016/j.bbalip.2016.10.004
Alternate JournalBiochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids
PubMed ID27742351
PubMed Central IDPMC5388599
Grant ListR01 GM034821 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
R35 GM118024 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
R37 GM034821 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States