Homeoviscous Adaptation of the Acinetobacter baumannii Outer Membrane: Alteration of Lipooligosaccharide Structure during Cold Stress
Carmen M. Herrera, Bradley J. Voss, M. Stephen Trent
Abstract
To maintain cellular fitness, the composition of biological membranes must change in response to shifts in temperature or other stresses. This process, known as homeoviscous adaptation, allows for maintenance of optimal fluidity and membrane permeability. Here, we describe an enzyme that alters the fatty acid content of A. baumannii LOS, a major structural feature and key component of the bacterial outer membrane. Although much is known regarding how glycerophospholipids are altered during temperature shifts, our understanding of LOS or LPS alterations under these conditions is lacking. Our work identifies a cold adaptation mechanism in A. baumannii, a highly adaptable and multidrug-resistant pathogen.