Membrane Disruption by Antimicrobial Fatty Acids Releases Low-Molecular-Weight Proteins from Staphylococcus aureus

The skin represents an important barrier for pathogens and is known to produce fatty acids that are toxic toward Gram-positive bacteria. A screen of fatty acids as growth inhibitors of Staphylococcus aureus revealed structure-specific antibacterial activity. Fatty acids like oleate (18:1 Delta 9) were nontoxic, whereas palmitoleate (16:1 Delta 9) was a potent growth inhibitor. Cells treated with 16:1 Delta 9 exhibited rapid membrane depolarization, the disruption of all major branches of macromolecular synthesis, and the release of solutes and low-molecular-weight proteins into the medium. Other cytotoxic lipids, such as glycerol ethers, sphingosine, and acyl-amines blocked growth by the same mechanisms. Nontoxic 18:1 Delta 9 was used for phospholipid synthesis, whereas toxic 16:1 Delta 9 was not and required elongation to 18:1 Delta 11 prior to incorporation. However, blocking fatty acid metabolism using inhibitors to prevent acyl-acyl carrier protein formation or glycerol-phosphate acyltransferase activity did not increase the toxicity of 18:1 Delta 9, indicating that inefficient metabolism did not play a determinant role in fatty acid toxicity. Nontoxic 18:1 Delta 9 was as toxic as 16:1 Delta 9 in a strain lacking wall teichoic acids and led to growth arrest and enhanced release of intracellular contents. Thus, wall teichoic acids contribute to the structure-specific antimicrobial effects of unsaturated fatty acids. The ability of poorly metabolized 16:1 isomers to penetrate the cell wall defenses is a weakness that has been exploited by the innate immune system to combat S. aureus.