Primary role of the Tol-Pal complex in bacterial outer membrane lipid homeostasis
Abstract Gram-negative bacteria are defined by an outer membrane (OM) that contributes to envelope integrity and barrier function. Building this bilayer require proper assembly of lipopolysaccharides, proteins, and phospholipids, yet how the balance of these components is achieved is unclear. One sy...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57630-y |
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| _version_ | 1849761987647504384 |
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| author | Wee Boon Tan Shu-Sin Chng |
| author_facet | Wee Boon Tan Shu-Sin Chng |
| author_sort | Wee Boon Tan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Gram-negative bacteria are defined by an outer membrane (OM) that contributes to envelope integrity and barrier function. Building this bilayer require proper assembly of lipopolysaccharides, proteins, and phospholipids, yet how the balance of these components is achieved is unclear. One system long known for ensuring OM stability is the Tol-Pal complex, which has been implicated in maintaining OM lipid homeostasis. However, assignment of Tol-Pal function has been challenging, owing to its septal localization and associated role(s) during division. Here, we uncouple the function of Tol-Pal in OM lipid homeostasis from its impact on cell division in Escherichia coli, by engineering a chimeric complex that loses septal enrichment. We demonstrate that this peripherally-localized Tol-Pal complex is fully capable of maintaining lipid balance in the OM, thus restoring OM integrity and barrier. Our work establishes the primary function of the Tol-Pal complex in OM lipid homeostasis, independent of its role during division. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7c97c4312e9346b2ae4c1bbea3e12987 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-7c97c4312e9346b2ae4c1bbea3e129872025-08-20T03:05:52ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-03-0116111110.1038/s41467-025-57630-yPrimary role of the Tol-Pal complex in bacterial outer membrane lipid homeostasisWee Boon Tan0Shu-Sin Chng1Department of Chemistry, National University ofDepartment of Chemistry, National University ofAbstract Gram-negative bacteria are defined by an outer membrane (OM) that contributes to envelope integrity and barrier function. Building this bilayer require proper assembly of lipopolysaccharides, proteins, and phospholipids, yet how the balance of these components is achieved is unclear. One system long known for ensuring OM stability is the Tol-Pal complex, which has been implicated in maintaining OM lipid homeostasis. However, assignment of Tol-Pal function has been challenging, owing to its septal localization and associated role(s) during division. Here, we uncouple the function of Tol-Pal in OM lipid homeostasis from its impact on cell division in Escherichia coli, by engineering a chimeric complex that loses septal enrichment. We demonstrate that this peripherally-localized Tol-Pal complex is fully capable of maintaining lipid balance in the OM, thus restoring OM integrity and barrier. Our work establishes the primary function of the Tol-Pal complex in OM lipid homeostasis, independent of its role during division.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57630-y |
| spellingShingle | Wee Boon Tan Shu-Sin Chng Primary role of the Tol-Pal complex in bacterial outer membrane lipid homeostasis Nature Communications |
| title | Primary role of the Tol-Pal complex in bacterial outer membrane lipid homeostasis |
| title_full | Primary role of the Tol-Pal complex in bacterial outer membrane lipid homeostasis |
| title_fullStr | Primary role of the Tol-Pal complex in bacterial outer membrane lipid homeostasis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Primary role of the Tol-Pal complex in bacterial outer membrane lipid homeostasis |
| title_short | Primary role of the Tol-Pal complex in bacterial outer membrane lipid homeostasis |
| title_sort | primary role of the tol pal complex in bacterial outer membrane lipid homeostasis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57630-y |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT weeboontan primaryroleofthetolpalcomplexinbacterialoutermembranelipidhomeostasis AT shusinchng primaryroleofthetolpalcomplexinbacterialoutermembranelipidhomeostasis |