A chimeric Mla-Pqi lipid transport system is required for Brucella abortus survival in macrophages.

ABSTRACT: The cell envelope of gram-negative bacteria is composed of an inner and an outer membrane. In Escherichia coli, several pathways mediate phospholipid transport between the two membranes, including the Mla (i.e., maintenance of lipid asymmetry) and Pqi (i.e., paraquat inducible) systems. Here, we identify and characterise in the intracellular pathogen Brucella abortus a complex named Mpc, which exhibits homology to both Mla and Pqi components. Mpc is required for bacterial growth under envelope stress conditions, and for survival within macrophages during the early stages of infection. Analyses of protein-protein interactions and structural predictions suggest that the Mpc complex bridges the two membranes of the bacterial cell envelope. Absence of this system results in altered lipid compo

SUBMITTER: Lannoy A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12436622 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature