Structure-function analysis of the ATP-driven glycolipid efflux pump DevBCA reveals complex organization with TolC/HgdD

In Gram-negative bacteria, trans-envelope efflux pumps have periplasmic membrane fusion proteins (MFPs) as essential components. MFPs act as mediators between outer membrane factors (OMFs) and inner membrane factors (IMFs). In this study, structure-function relations of the ATP-driven glycolipid efflux pump DevBCA-TolC/HgdD from the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 were analyzed. The binding of the MFP DevB to the OMF TolC absolutely required the respective tip-regions. The interaction of DevB with the IMF DevAC mainly involved the β-barrel and the lipoyl domain. Efficient binding to DevAC and TolC, substrate recognition and export activity by DevAC were dependent on stable DevB hexamers.