Membrane remodeling capacity of a vesicle‐inducing glycosyltransferase

摘要: Intracellular vesicles are abundant in eukaryotic cells but absent the Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli. However, strong overexpression of a monotopic glycolipid-synthesizing enzyme, monoglucosyldiacylglycerol synthase from Acholeplasma laidlawii (alMGS), leads to massive formation cytoplasm E. coli. More importantly, alMGS provides model system for regulation membrane properties by membrane-bound enzymes, which is critical maintaining cellular integrity. Both phenomena depend on how binds cell membranes, not well understood. Here, we carry out comprehensive investigation binding combining bioinformatics methods with extensive biochemical studies, structural modeling and molecular dynamics simulations. We find that fairly upright manner, mainly residues N-terminal domain, way induces local enrichment anionic lipids curvature deformation. Furthermore, several variants resulting substitution anchoring segment still able generate vesicles, regardless enzymatic activity. These results clarify earlier theories about driving forces vesicle formation, shed new light mechanism related GT-B fold glycosyltransferases.