Mitochondrial and bacterial membranes

Mitochondrial and bacterial membranes are complex lipid bilayers that serve as the primary site for energy metabolism and maintain cellular homeostasis through the generation of electrochemical gradients (PMID: 25611101). Due to the endosymbiotic origin of mitochondria from proteobacteria, these membranes share distinct biochemical features, such as the presence of the unique phospholipid cardiolipin and a lack of cholesterol (PMID: 25109507). These similarities make them primary targets for several classes of antibiotics, including polymyxins and daptomycin, which act by disrupting membrane integrity or causing depolarization (PMID: 15016147). However, this evolutionary conservation also leads to therapeutic challenges, as drugs designed to target bacterial membranes can inadvertently damage host mitochondrial membranes, resulting in clinical toxicities such as nephrotoxicity and neurotoxicity (PMID: 26361430). Beyond infectious diseases, the mitochondrial membrane is a target for novel therapeutics like elamipretide, which stabilizes cardiolipin to improve metabolic function in rare genetic and age-related diseases (PMID: 30237569).

Other names

Mitochondrial membraneBacterial cell membraneCytoplasmic membraneInner mitochondrial membraneBacterial plasma membrane

Membrane permeabilization, pore formation, and dissipation of the electrochemical gradient (proton motive force).