title: Three-Dimensional Distribution of Phospholipids in Gram Negative Bacteria.
abstract: Exploration of the molecular structure of the bacterial cell envelope informs our understanding of its role in bacterial growth. This is crucial for research into both inhibiting and promoting bacterial growth as well as fundamental studies of cell cycle control. The spatial arrangement of the lipids in the cell envelope of Gram negative bacteria in particular has attracted considerable research attention in recent years. In this mini-review, we explore advances in understanding the spatial distribution of lipids in the model Gram negative prokaryote Escherichia coli. This includes the distribution of lipids in three dimensions, (a) lateral distribution within a monolayer, (b) asymmetry between bilayers and monolayers, and (c) distribution as a function of progress through membrane division (temporal shifts). We conclude that lipid distribution in E. coli and probably all bacteria is dynamic despite a narrow lipid profile and that the biophysical properties of the membrane are inhomogeneous as a result. Finally, we suggest that further work in this field may indicate how lipid distribution is controlled and what this means for bacterial growth and metabolism and even cell cycle control.
authors: MBI, Department of Molecular Biology, University of Bergen , Thormøhlensgate 55, 5008 Bergen, Norway.
authors: Samuel
authors: S
authors: Furse
authors: National Centre for Macromolecular Hydrodynamics, University of Nottingham , College Road, Sutton Bonington, Nottinghamshire LE12 5RD, U.K.|ISIS Spallation Neutron Source, STFC, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory , Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Harwell, Oxon OX11 0QX, U.K.
authors: David J
authors: DJ
authors: Scott
mesh_terms: D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D010743:Phospholipids