Absence of PmrAB-mediated phosphoethanolamine modifications of Citrobacter rodentium lipopolysaccharide affects outer membrane integrity

J Bacteriol. 2011 May;193(9):2168-76. doi: 10.1128/JB.01449-10. Epub 2011 Mar 4.

Abstract

The PmrAB two-component system of enterobacteria regulates a number of genes whose protein products modify lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The LPS is modified during transport to the bacterial outer membrane (OM). A subset of PmrAB-mediated LPS modifications consists of the addition of phosphoethanolamine (pEtN) to lipid A by PmrC and to the core by CptA. In Salmonella enterica, pEtN modifications have been associated with resistance to polymyxin B and to excess iron. To investigate putative functions of pEtN modifications in Citrobacter rodentium, ΔpmrAB, ΔpmrC, ΔcptA, and ΔpmrC ΔcptA deletion mutants were constructed. Compared to the wild type, most mutant strains were found to be more susceptible to antibiotics that must diffuse across the LPS layer of the OM. All mutant strains also showed increased influx rates of ethidium dye across their OM, suggesting that PmrAB-regulated pEtN modifications affect OM permeability. This was confirmed by increased partitioning of the fluorescent dye 1-N-phenylnaphthylamine (NPN) into the OM phospholipid layer of the mutant strains. In addition, substantial release of periplasmic β-lactamase was observed for the ΔpmrAB and ΔpmrC ΔcptA strains, indicating a loss of OM integrity. This study attributes a new role for PmrAB-mediated pEtN LPS modifications in the maintenance of C. rodentium OM integrity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Membrane / physiology
  • Citrobacter rodentium / cytology*
  • Citrobacter rodentium / genetics
  • Citrobacter rodentium / metabolism*
  • Ethanolamines / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / physiology
  • Lipopolysaccharides / chemistry
  • Lipopolysaccharides / metabolism*
  • Mutation
  • Permeability
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • beta-Lactamases / metabolism

Substances

  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
  • Ethanolamines
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • phosphorylethanolamine
  • beta-Lactamases