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E. coli MG1655 modulates its phospholipid composition through the cell cycle

Samuel Furse1, Hans Wienk2, Rolf Boelens2

  • 1Membrane Biochemistry and Biophysics, Department of Chemistry, Universiteit Utrecht, Kruytgebouw, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands.

FEBS Letters
|August 15, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Phospholipid profiles in Escherichia coli reveal that phosphatidyl glycerol increases during cell elongation, while cardiolipin (CL) levels remain constant. This suggests cell cycle-dependent control of lipid production in bacteria.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Bacterial cell division involves complex regulation of membrane synthesis.
  • Phospholipids are crucial components of bacterial membranes, with distinct roles and distributions.
  • Understanding lipid dynamics during the cell cycle is key to deciphering bacterial growth and division.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the phospholipid profile of Escherichia coli during specific cell cycle stages.
  • To determine the growth patterns of phosphatidyl glycerol and cardiolipin during cell elongation.
  • To correlate lipid distribution with cell cycle progression.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of phospholipid composition in Escherichia coli MG1655 cultures.
  • Quantification of lipid fractions at the B and D periods of the cell cycle.
  • Microscopy to assess cardiolipin localization within the cell.

Main Results:

  • The phosphatidyl glycerol fraction exhibited rapid growth during cell elongation.
  • The cardiolipin (CL) fraction showed no significant growth during cell elongation.
  • Cardiolipin was observed to be preferentially localized at the poles of E. coli cells.

Conclusions:

  • Phospholipid production in E. coli is regulated in response to the cell cycle.
  • The distinct growth patterns of phosphatidyl glycerol and cardiolipin suggest differential regulation and functional roles.
  • Cardiolipin's stable levels and polar localization imply a role beyond membrane expansion during elongation.
Keywords:
Cell cycleCell cycle controlLipidLipid metabolismLipidomic

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