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Bacterial lipids: metabolism and membrane homeostasis.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Parsons, JB; Rock, CO
Published in: Progress in lipid research
July 2013

Membrane lipid homeostasis is a vital facet of bacterial cell physiology. For decades, research in bacterial lipid synthesis was largely confined to the Escherichia coli model system. This basic research provided a blueprint for the biochemistry of lipid metabolism that has largely defined the individual steps in bacterial fatty acid and phospholipids synthesis. The advent of genomic sequencing has revealed a surprising amount of diversity in the genes, enzymes and genetic organization of the components responsible for bacterial lipid synthesis. Although the chemical steps in fatty acid synthesis are largely conserved in bacteria, there are surprising differences in the structure and cofactor requirements for the enzymes that perform these reactions in Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. This review summarizes how the explosion of new information on the diversity of biochemical and genetic regulatory mechanisms has impacted our understanding of bacterial lipid homeostasis. The potential and problems of developing therapeutics that block pathogen phospholipid synthesis are explored and evaluated. The study of bacterial lipid metabolism continues to be a rich source for new biochemistry that underlies the variety and adaptability of bacterial life styles.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Progress in lipid research

DOI

EISSN

1873-2194

ISSN

0163-7827

Publication Date

July 2013

Volume

52

Issue

3

Start / End Page

249 / 276

Related Subject Headings

  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Phosphatidic Acids
  • Membrane Lipids
  • Lipid Metabolism
  • Fatty Acids
  • Fatty Acid Synthase, Type II
  • Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
  • Bacteria
  • Acyltransferases
  • 3205 Medical biochemistry and metabolomics
 

Citation

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ICMJE
MLA
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Parsons, J. B., & Rock, C. O. (2013). Bacterial lipids: metabolism and membrane homeostasis. Progress in Lipid Research, 52(3), 249–276. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plipres.2013.02.002
Parsons, Joshua B., and Charles O. Rock. “Bacterial lipids: metabolism and membrane homeostasis.Progress in Lipid Research 52, no. 3 (July 2013): 249–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plipres.2013.02.002.
Parsons JB, Rock CO. Bacterial lipids: metabolism and membrane homeostasis. Progress in lipid research. 2013 Jul;52(3):249–76.
Parsons, Joshua B., and Charles O. Rock. “Bacterial lipids: metabolism and membrane homeostasis.Progress in Lipid Research, vol. 52, no. 3, July 2013, pp. 249–76. Epmc, doi:10.1016/j.plipres.2013.02.002.
Parsons JB, Rock CO. Bacterial lipids: metabolism and membrane homeostasis. Progress in lipid research. 2013 Jul;52(3):249–276.
Journal cover image

Published In

Progress in lipid research

DOI

EISSN

1873-2194

ISSN

0163-7827

Publication Date

July 2013

Volume

52

Issue

3

Start / End Page

249 / 276

Related Subject Headings

  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Phosphatidic Acids
  • Membrane Lipids
  • Lipid Metabolism
  • Fatty Acids
  • Fatty Acid Synthase, Type II
  • Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
  • Bacteria
  • Acyltransferases
  • 3205 Medical biochemistry and metabolomics