An Escherichia coli Mutant Defective in Lipid Export

Abstract

Escherichia coli phospholipids and lipopolysaccharide, made on the inner surface of the inner membrane, are rapidly transported to the outer membrane by mechanisms that are not well characterized. We now report a temperature-sensitive mutant (WD2) with an A270T substitution in a trans-membrane region of the ABC transporter MsbA. As shown by 32Pi and 14C-acetate labeling, export of all major lipids to the outer membrane is inhibited by ∼90% in WD2 after 30 min at 44 °C. Transport of newly synthesized proteins is not impaired. Electron microscopy shows reduplicated inner membranes in WD2 at 44 °C, consistent with a key role for MsbA in lipid trafficking.