Structure of an Inner Membrane Protein Required for PhoPQ-Regulated Increases in Outer Membrane Cardiolipin

Abstract

Gram-negative bacteria cause many types of infections and have become increasingly resistant to available antibiotic drugs. The outer membrane serves as an important barrier that protects bacteria against antibiotics and other toxic compounds. This outer membrane barrier function is regulated when bacteria are in host environments, and the protein PbgA contributes significantly to this increased barrier function by transporting cardiolipin to the outer membrane. We determined the crystal structure of PbgA in complex with cardiolipin and propose a model for its function. Knowledge of the mechanisms of outer membrane assembly and integrity can greatly contribute to the development of new and effective antibiotics, and this structural information may be useful in this regard.