Biogenesis of outermembrane proteins in Gram-negative bacteria

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The double membrane surrounding each Gram-negative bacteria protects the bacteria from its environment, and is the site of many other essential functions such as nutriment acquisition, cell-signaling, adhesion, motility, virulence, or bacterial reproduction. The proteins in these membranes are of critical importance as the functions they accomplish are required for cell survival and bacterial pathogenesis. While the biogenesis of inner-membrane proteins has been studied over decades and is well described in the literature, the mechanisms underlying the incorporation and biogenesis of integral membrane proteins within the bacterial outer-membrane remain elusive. These mechanisms are of critical importance as they are used by pathogenic bacteria to cover themselves with cell surface proteins promoting virulence, and thus are considered promising drug targets for the development of novel therapeutics against bacterial pathogens.