Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-22-2004

Abstract

MsbA is an essential ABC transporter in Escherichia coli required for exporting newly synthesized lipids from the inner to the outer membrane. It remains uncertain whether or not MsbA catalyzes trans-bilayer lipid movement (i.e. flip-flop) within the inner membrane. We now show that newly synthesized lipid A accumulates on the cytoplasmic side of the inner membrane after shifting an E. coli msbA missense mutant to the non-permissive temperature. This conclusion is based on the selective inhibition of periplasmic, but not cytoplasmic, covalent modifications of lipid A that occur in polymysin-resistant strains of E. coli. The accessibility of newly synthesized phosphatidylethanolamine to membrane impermeable reagents, like 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid, is also reduced severalfold. Our data showed that MsbA facilitates the rapid translocation of some lipids from the cytoplasmic to the periplasmic side of the inner membrane in living cells.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Journal of Biological Chemistry

First Page

45102

Last Page

45109

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