Gram-negative bacterial outer membrane phospholipid

Gram-negative bacterial outer membrane phospholipids refer to the phospholipid molecules that compose the inner leaflet of the asymmetric outer membrane (OM) of Gram-negative bacteria. The OM is a unique lipid bilayer, with its inner leaflet comprised mostly of phospholipids such as phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, and cardiolipin, and its outer leaflet composed mainly of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). These phospholipids are key to the structural integrity, fluidity, and selective permeability of the bacterial outer membrane, which serves as a critical barrier against environmental threats and antibiotics. Phospholipid composition and transport are tightly regulated, with proteins like YhdP and systems like the Mla pathway ensuring proper trafficking from the inner membrane to the outer membrane. While targeting the processes involved in phospholipid transport is a therapeutic strategy, the phospholipids themselves are not generally considered direct drug targets due to challenges in specificity and host safety concerns.

Other names

Gram-negative outer membrane phospholipidGram-negative bacterial OM phospholipidOuter membrane phospholipid of Gram-negative bacteria

Disruption of membrane integrity (e.g., by cationic peptides or polymyxins): leads to increased permeability and bacterial cell death Inhibition of phospholipid transport (e.g., by inhibiting the Mla pathway proteins)