Membrane lipid homeostasis in bacteria
Yong-Mei Zhang1, Charles O Rock
1Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 332 N. Lauderdale, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA. yongmei.zhang@stjude.org charles.rock@stjude.org
Abstract:
The ability of bacteria to control the biophysical properties of their membrane phospholipids allows them to thrive in a wide range of physical environments. Bacteria precisely adjust their membrane lipid composition by modifying the types of fatty acids that are produced by the biosynthetic pathway and altering the structures of pre-existing phospholipids. The recycling of phospholipids that are used as intermediates in the biosynthesis of other major membrane components is also crucial to bilayer stability in dividing cells. Here, the principal genetic and biochemical processes that are responsible for membrane lipid homeostasis in bacteria are reviewed.
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