ISSN:
1476-5535
Keywords:
Keywords: outer membrane; glycolipid; reconstituted membranes; porins; complement activation; polycationic antibiotics
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Process Engineering, Biotechnology, Nutrition Technology
Notes:
The bacterial cell wall of Gram-negative bacteria consists, in addition to the cytoplasmic membrane, of another permeability barrier, the outer membrane. The lipid distribution between both sides of this membrane is strictly asymmetric. The outer leaflet is made up of glycolipids, usually lipopolysaccharides. In Sphingomonas spp glycosphingolipids were found to substitute for lipopolysaccharides. In this review, it is shown by an electrophysiological approach that glycosphingolipid can replace lipopolysaccharide with respect to its function as antigenic surface structure as well as to its contribution to the diffusion barrier properties of the outer membrane. This review is focused on: (i) the function of porins, as examples of transmembrane proteins, in the different glycolipid environments; (ii) the interaction of polymyxin B with the outer membrane, as an example of polycationic antibacterial peptides; and (iii) the activation of the human complement system by lipopolysaccharides and glycosphingolipids.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/sj.jim.2900709
