Biogenesis of Bordetella cell envelope components

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The envelope of Gram negative bacteria is complex. It comprises the inner membrane and the cell wall. The cell wall consists of a thin peptidoglycan structure surrounded by an asymmetric outer membrane bilayer consisting of phospholipids and lipopolysaccharides within which are attached or embedded various (lipo)proteins. The space between the inner and outer membranes is called the periplasm. In addition to functioning as a selective barrier and protecting bacteria from harsh conditions, the envelope plays a critical role in determining the outcome of interactions between the bacterium and its environment. Indeed, several components of the cell envelope are regulated in response to environmental conditions. Furthermore, the biogenesis of envelope components is also complex; targeting envelope components to specific locations requires dedicated molecular machinery and mechanisms that maintain the components in a state suited to being able to traverse one or more membranes. These mechanisms may also assist in promoting the function of the components once they have reached their destination.