Functional microdomains in bacterial membranes.
The membranes of eukaryotic cells harbor microdomains known as lipid rafts that contain a variety of signaling and transport proteins. Here we show that bacterial membranes contain microdomains functionally similar to those of eukaryotic cells. These membrane microdomains from diverse bacteria harbor homologs of Flotillin-1, a eukaryotic protein found exclusively in lipid rafts, along with proteins involved in signaling and transport. Inhibition of lipid raft formation through the action of zaragozic acid--a known inhibitor of squalene synthases--impaired biofilm formation and protein secretion but not cell viability. The orchestration of physiological processes in microdomains may be a more widespread feature of membranes than previously appreciated.
López
Daniel
D
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Kolter
Roberto
R
D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D001419:Bacteria / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D013186:Farnesyl-Diphosphate Farnesyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D021962:Membrane Microdomains / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D021381:Protein Transport; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013401:Sugar Alcohol Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C106354:flotillins; C551263:IolX protein, Bacillus subtilis; D013401:Sugar Alcohol Dehydrogenases; D013186:Farnesyl-Diphosphate Farnesyltransferase