Work

Similarity to peroxisomal-membrane protein family reveals that Sinorhizobium and Brucella BacA affect lipid-A fatty acids

Year: 2004

Type: article

Abstract: Sinorhizobium meliloti, a legume symbiont, and Brucella abortus, a phylogenetically related mammalian pathogen, both require the bacterial-encoded BacA protein to establish chronic intracellular infections in their respective hosts. We found that the bacterial BacA proteins share sequence similarity with a family of eukaryotic peroxisomal-membrane proteins, including the human adrenoleukodystrophy protein, required for the efficient transport of very-long-chain fatty acids out of the cytoplasm. This insight, along with the increased sensitivity of BacA-deficient mutants to detergents and cell envelope-disrupting agents, led us to discover that BacA affects the very-long-chain fatty acid (27-OHC28:0 and 29-OHC30:0) content of both Sinorhizobium and Brucella lipid A. We discuss models for how BacA function affects the lipid-A fatty-acid content and why this activity could be important for the establishment of chronic intracellular infections.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0307137101

Authors: Gail P. Ferguson, Anup Datta, John Baumgartner, R. Martin Roop, Russ W. Carlson, Graham C. Walker

Institutions: University of Georgia, East Carolina University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology

Subfield: Genetics

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green