Cell membrane lipids of microbial and tumor cells

Cell membrane lipids of microbial and tumor cells represent a diverse class of therapeutic targets characterized by their distinct composition compared to healthy mammalian cells. In bacteria, anionic phospholipids like phosphatidylglycerol and the cell wall precursor Lipid II are primary targets for antibiotics such as daptomycin and vancomycin (Source: Schneider & Sahl, 2010, Nature Reviews Microbiology). Fungal membranes are specifically targeted via ergosterol, a sterol absent in humans, by polyene antifungals like amphotericin B (Source: Mesa-Arango et al., 2012, Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy). In oncology, the loss of membrane asymmetry leads to the exposure of phosphatidylserine (PS) on the outer leaflet of tumor cells, providing a selective marker for drugs like bavituximab (Source: Birge et al., 2016, Cell Death & Differentiation). These lipid targets are exploited to induce membrane permeabilization, pore formation, or immune-mediated destruction of the target cell. Despite their utility, therapeutic challenges include off-target toxicity to host membranes, leading to side effects such as nephrotoxicity and hemolysis (Source: Gallud et al., 2018, Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews).

Other names

Membrane phospholipidsAnionic membrane lipidsMicrobial lipidsTumor-associated lipidsPhosphatidylserineErgosterolLipid II

Drugs targeting these lipids typically act by disrupting the physical integrity of the cell membrane through pore formation, detergent-like solubilization, or by binding to specific lipid components to inhibit essential biosynthetic pathways or induce immune-mediated cell clearance (Source: Epand et al., 2016, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta).