Bacterial cell membrane anionic phospholipid

Bacterial cell membrane anionic phospholipids, primarily phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and cardiolipin (CL), are essential components of the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane that provide a net negative surface charge (Dowhan, W., 1997, Annu. Rev. Biochem.). This negative charge is a critical discriminator between bacterial and mammalian cells, as the latter's outer leaflets are primarily composed of zwitterionic lipids like phosphatidylcholine (Yeaman, M.R. & Yount, N.Y., 2003, Pharmacol. Rev.). These phospholipids play vital roles in maintaining membrane integrity, anchoring proteins, and coordinating cell wall biosynthesis (Epand, R.M. et al., 2016, Biochim. Biophys. Acta). They serve as the primary target for several classes of antibiotics, including lipopeptides like daptomycin, which binds to PG in a calcium-dependent manner to cause membrane depolarization (Müller, A. et al., 2016, PNAS). Additionally, polymyxins interact with these anionic lipids to disrupt the membrane barrier in Gram-negative bacteria (Velkov, T. et al., 2013, J. Med. Chem.). Targeting these lipids is a highly effective strategy for treating multi-drug resistant infections, though it requires careful management of potential toxicities such as myopathy or nephrotoxicity (Bari, A.K. et al., 2022, Cureus).

Other names

Bacterial anionic phospholipidsPhosphatidylglycerolCardiolipinNegatively charged bacterial lipids

Binding to anionic phospholipids leads to membrane permeabilization, loss of membrane potential (depolarization), and leakage of intracellular ions, resulting in rapid cell death.