The SPFH complex HflK-HflC regulates aerobic respiration in bacteria.

The bacterial HflK-HflC membrane complex is a member of the highly conserved family of SPFH proteins, which are present in all domains of life and include eukaryotic stomatins, flotillins, and prohibitins. These proteins organize cell membranes and are involved in various processes. However, the exa...

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Main Authors: María Isabel Pérez-López, Paul Lubrano, Georgia Angelidou, Sarah Hoch, Timo Glatter, Nicole Paczia, Hannes Link, Victor Sourjik
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-04-01
Series:PLoS Biology
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3003077
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author María Isabel Pérez-López
Paul Lubrano
Georgia Angelidou
Sarah Hoch
Timo Glatter
Nicole Paczia
Hannes Link
Victor Sourjik
author_facet María Isabel Pérez-López
Paul Lubrano
Georgia Angelidou
Sarah Hoch
Timo Glatter
Nicole Paczia
Hannes Link
Victor Sourjik
author_sort María Isabel Pérez-López
collection DOAJ
description The bacterial HflK-HflC membrane complex is a member of the highly conserved family of SPFH proteins, which are present in all domains of life and include eukaryotic stomatins, flotillins, and prohibitins. These proteins organize cell membranes and are involved in various processes. However, the exact physiological functions of most bacterial SPFH proteins remain unclear. Here, we report that the HflK-HflC complex in Escherichia coli is required for growth under high aeration. The absence of this complex causes a growth defect at high oxygen levels due to a reduced abundance of IspG, an essential iron-sulfur cluster enzyme in the isoprenoid biosynthetic pathway. This reduction might be related to lower stability of IspG and several other proteins, including the iron siderophore transporter TonB, in the absence of the HflK-HflC complex. Our results suggest that decreased IspG activity leads to lower levels of ubiquinone and misregulated expression of multiple respiratory enzymes, including cytochrome oxidases, and consequently reduced respiration and lower ATP levels. This impact of the hflK hflC deletion on aerobic respiration resembles the mitochondrial respiratory defects caused by the inactivation of prohibitins in mammalian and yeast cells, indicating functional parallels between these bacterial and eukaryotic SPFH proteins.
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spelling doaj-art-4d8e45c805084f64bbd668b69d6890a92025-08-20T02:24:47ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Biology1544-91731545-78852025-04-01234e300307710.1371/journal.pbio.3003077The SPFH complex HflK-HflC regulates aerobic respiration in bacteria.María Isabel Pérez-LópezPaul LubranoGeorgia AngelidouSarah HochTimo GlatterNicole PacziaHannes LinkVictor SourjikThe bacterial HflK-HflC membrane complex is a member of the highly conserved family of SPFH proteins, which are present in all domains of life and include eukaryotic stomatins, flotillins, and prohibitins. These proteins organize cell membranes and are involved in various processes. However, the exact physiological functions of most bacterial SPFH proteins remain unclear. Here, we report that the HflK-HflC complex in Escherichia coli is required for growth under high aeration. The absence of this complex causes a growth defect at high oxygen levels due to a reduced abundance of IspG, an essential iron-sulfur cluster enzyme in the isoprenoid biosynthetic pathway. This reduction might be related to lower stability of IspG and several other proteins, including the iron siderophore transporter TonB, in the absence of the HflK-HflC complex. Our results suggest that decreased IspG activity leads to lower levels of ubiquinone and misregulated expression of multiple respiratory enzymes, including cytochrome oxidases, and consequently reduced respiration and lower ATP levels. This impact of the hflK hflC deletion on aerobic respiration resembles the mitochondrial respiratory defects caused by the inactivation of prohibitins in mammalian and yeast cells, indicating functional parallels between these bacterial and eukaryotic SPFH proteins.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3003077
spellingShingle María Isabel Pérez-López
Paul Lubrano
Georgia Angelidou
Sarah Hoch
Timo Glatter
Nicole Paczia
Hannes Link
Victor Sourjik
The SPFH complex HflK-HflC regulates aerobic respiration in bacteria.
PLoS Biology
title The SPFH complex HflK-HflC regulates aerobic respiration in bacteria.
title_full The SPFH complex HflK-HflC regulates aerobic respiration in bacteria.
title_fullStr The SPFH complex HflK-HflC regulates aerobic respiration in bacteria.
title_full_unstemmed The SPFH complex HflK-HflC regulates aerobic respiration in bacteria.
title_short The SPFH complex HflK-HflC regulates aerobic respiration in bacteria.
title_sort spfh complex hflk hflc regulates aerobic respiration in bacteria
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3003077
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