title: Membrane lipid homeostasis in bacteria.
abstract: The ability of bacteria to control the biophysical properties of their membrane phospholipids allows them to thrive in a wide range of physical environments. Bacteria precisely adjust their membrane lipid composition by modifying the types of fatty acids that are produced by the biosynthetic pathway and altering the structures of pre-existing phospholipids. The recycling of phospholipids that are used as intermediates in the biosynthesis of other major membrane components is also crucial to bilayer stability in dividing cells. Here, the principal genetic and biochemical processes that are responsible for membrane lipid homeostasis in bacteria are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 332 N. Lauderdale, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA. yongmei.zhang@stjude.org charles.rock@stjude.org
authors.forename: Yong-Mei
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Charles O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Rock
mesh_terms: D000213:Acyl Carrier Protein / Q000502:physiology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases / Q000378:metabolism; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000378:metabolism; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000213:Acyl Carrier Protein; D005227:Fatty Acids; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D010743:Phospholipids; C022369:phospholipid desaturase; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases