Bacterial outer membrane phospholipid

Bacterial outer membrane phospholipids are essential structural components of the Gram-negative bacterial cell envelope, primarily located in the inner leaflet of the asymmetric outer membrane (Nikaido, 2003). These lipids, including phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, and cardiolipin, provide a semi-permeable barrier that protects the cell from environmental stressors and toxic compounds (Epand & Epand, 2009). They are critical for maintaining the mechanical integrity of the membrane and for the proper functioning of embedded membrane proteins. In clinical medicine, these phospholipids are the primary targets for polymyxin antibiotics, such as Polymyxin B and Colistin, which are often used as a last resort for multi-drug resistant infections (Zavascki et al., 2007). The drugs bind to the negatively charged components of the membrane, displacing divalent cations and causing physical disruption that leads to cytoplasmic leakage and cell death (Poirel et al., 2017). While effective, targeting these lipids presents significant therapeutic challenges, most notably dose-limiting nephrotoxicity and neurotoxicity in human patients.

Other names

Bacterial membrane lipidsGram-negative outer membrane lipidsBacterial phospholipids

Disruption of membrane integrity through electrostatic interaction with negatively charged phospholipids and displacement of divalent cations, leading to cell lysis.