Bacillus subtilis Uses Protein-Lipid Filaments to Expand Bioenergetic Capacity
Researchers have identified a novel mechanism in Gram-positive bacteria that allows them to expand their respiratory capacity without internal organelles. In Bacillus subtilis, the NADH dehydrogenase Ndh and the quinone-transporting protein Ncp form tube-like filaments that sequester and transport hydrophobic quinones. This structure, described as a pseudomembrane, increases the surface area for electron transfer while occupying minimal membrane space, offering a solution to the constraints of single-membrane bioenergetics.