Proteomic analysis of Escherichia coli detergent-resistant membranes (DRM)

PLoS One. 2019 Oct 11;14(10):e0223794. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0223794. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Membrane microdomains or lipid rafts compartmentalize cellular processes by laterally organizing membrane components. Such sub-membrane structures were mainly described in eukaryotic cells, but, recently, also in bacteria. Here, the protein content of lipid rafts in Escherichia coli was explored by mass spectrometry analyses of Detergent Resistant Membranes (DRM). We report that at least three of the four E. coli flotillin homologous proteins were found to reside in DRM, along with 77 more proteins. Moreover, the proteomic data were validated by subcellular localization, using immunoblot assays and fluorescence microscopy of selected proteins. Our results confirm the existence of lipid raft-like microdomains in the inner membrane of E. coli and represent the first comprehensive profiling of proteins in these bacterial membrane platforms.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism*
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / metabolism
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Membrane Microdomains / metabolism*
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Multigene Family
  • Proteomics / methods*

Substances

  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • flotillins

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants IN208718 (AFA) and IN209918 (DG) from Dirección General de Asuntos del Personal Académico (DGAPA), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.