Research progress in the synthesis of cell membrane phospholipids in Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract:

Staphylococcus aureus is a major contributor to the microbiological safety hazards in China. It uses fatty acids to synthesize phosphatidic acid (an essential intermediate in the synthesis of cell membrane phospholipids) for reproduction. Therefore, inhibiting the synthesis of phosphatidic acid can effectively control S. aureus and thus reduce the damage to the environment and organisms. However, S. aureus has the ability to synthesize phosphatidic acid via both the type II fatty acid synthesis (FASII) pathway and the FASII bypass. The common inhibitors against S. aureus only target the FASII pathway, which can result in the emergence of FASII bypass escape when the bacteria are exposed to high levels of exogenous fatty acids, creating a potential gap in the protection. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the signaling processes of the FASII pathway and bypass for synthesizing phospholipid acid, as well as the conversion of phospholipid acid to other phospholipids in S. aureus. Furthermore, the key targets of the signaling processes that may be inhibited by antibacterial agents are discussed. This review may provide theoretical guidance for the development of new bacterial inhibitors.