Distinct Energy-Coupling Factor Transporter Subunits Enable Flavin Acquisition and Extracytosolic Trafficking for Extracellular Electron Transfer in Listeria monocytogenes

Abstract

Bacteria import vitamins and other essential compounds from their surroundings but also traffic related compounds from the cytosol to the cell envelope where they serve various functions. Studying the foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes , we find that the modular use of subunits from a prominent class of bacterial transporters enables the import of environmental vitamin B 2 cofactors and the extracytosolic trafficking of a vitamin B 2 -derived cofactor that facilitates redox reactions in the cell envelope.