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Membrane lipids from gut microbiome-associated bacteria as structural and signalling molecules
Eileen Ryan1,2, Susan A Joyce1,2, David J Clarke1,3
1APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
Microbiology (Reading, England)
|March 23, 2023
Summary
Bacteria synthesize diverse lipids, including those involved in microbe-host signaling. This review explores bacterial lipid diversity and their roles as signaling molecules, particularly in microbiome-associated bacteria.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Lipidomics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Bacteria produce diverse membrane lipids beyond the common glycerophosphoglycerol, glycerophosphoethanolamine, and cardiolipin found in model organisms like E. coli.
- Some bacteria can synthesize a wider range of lipids, including glycerophosphocholines, glycerophosphoinositols, N-acyl amines, sphingolipids, and plasmalogens.
- Bacterial lipids are increasingly recognized for their roles beyond membrane structure, particularly in host interactions.
Conclusions:
- Bacterial lipid diversity is extensive and functionally significant.
- Microbiome-associated bacteria produce lipids that are key mediators of host interactions.
- Understanding these bacterial lipids is vital for deciphering microbe-host molecular dialogue.
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