Bacterial respiratory chain and metal centers

The bacterial respiratory chain in skin microbiota is a complex system of membrane-bound enzymes and electron carriers responsible for generating energy through oxidative phosphorylation. These pathways utilize various metal centers, including iron-sulfur (Fe-S) clusters, hemes, and copper sites, to facilitate the flow of electrons and the pumping of protons across the cytoplasmic membrane (Source: PubMed, PMID: 28630386). In skin-resident bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus and Cutibacterium acnes, these respiratory components are vital for survival, growth, and virulence, especially under the nutrient-limited conditions of the skin surface (Source: PubMed, PMID: 30258061). Therapeutic strategies targeting these systems involve small molecules that inhibit specific complexes, such as ATP synthase or NADH dehydrogenase, or agents that disrupt metal homeostasis within these enzymes (Source: PubMed, PMID: 25611366). While promising for treating skin infections and acne, such interventions must be carefully designed to ensure selectivity for bacterial over human mitochondrial targets and to minimize the impact on beneficial commensal organisms (Source: PubMed, PMID: 31439616).

Other names

Bacterial electron transport chainBacterial ETCMicrobial respiratory enzymesMetalloenzymes of the bacterial respiratory chain

Inhibition of ATP synthase, disruption of iron-sulfur clusters, competition with essential metal ions, inhibition of cytochrome oxidases, and uncoupling of the proton motive force.