Lipidomics Analysis of Outer Membrane Vesicles and Elucidation of the Inositol Phosphoceramide Biosynthetic Pathway in Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron

Abstract

Sphingolipids are essential membrane lipid components found in eukaryotes that are also involved in cell signaling processes. Although rare in bacteria, sphingolipids are produced by members of the phylum “ Bacteroidetes ,” human gut commensals. Here, we determined that OMVs carry sphingolipids and other lipids of known signaling function. Our results demonstrate that the BT1522–1526 operon is required for IPC biosynthesis in B. thetaiotaomicron .