Multicomponent Drug Efflux Complexes: Architecture and Mechanism of Assembly

Abstract

Multidrug efflux pumps are major contributors to intrinsic antibiotic resistance in Gram-negative pathogens. The basic structure of these pumps comprises an nner membrane transporter, a periplasmic membrane fusion protein and an outer membrane channel. However, the architecture and composition of multidrug efflux complexes vary significantly because of the topological and functional diversity of the inner membrane transporters. This article presents the current views on architecture and assembly of multicomponent drug efflux transporters from Gram-negative bacteria.

Keywords:

• antibiotic resistance
• membrane fusion protein
• multidrug efflux transporter
• TolC

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Studies in Helen I Zgurskaya‘s laboratory are supported by the NIH grant 1-RO1-AI052293. The author has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

Studies in Helen I Zgurskaya‘s laboratory are supported by the NIH grant 1-RO1-AI052293. The author has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.