Tol Energy-Driven Localization of pal and Anchoring to the Peptidoglycan Promote Outer Membrane Constriction

Publication date: Available online 31 May 2019Source: Journal of Molecular BiologyAuthor(s): Mélissa Petiti, Bastien Serrano, Laura Faure, Roland Lloubes, Tâm Mignot, Denis DucheAbstractDuring cell division, Gram-negative bacteria must coordinate inner membrane (IM) invagination, peptidoglycan (PG) synthesis and cleavage and outer membrane (OM) constriction. The OM constriction remains largely enigmatic and the nature of this process, passive or active, is under debate. The proton-motive force (PMF) dependent Tol-Pal system performs a network of interactions within these three compartments. Here we confirm that the trans-envelope Tol-Pal complex accumulates at constriction site in Escherichia coli. We show that the IM complex composed of TolA, TolQ and TolR recruits the OM complex TolB-Pal to the septum, in an energy-dependent process. Pal recruitment then allows its binding to PG and subsequently, OM constriction. Our results provide evidence that the constriction of the OM is an energized process.Graphical abstract
Source: Journal of Molecular Biology - Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research