Direct interaction between phosphotransferase LpxT and ArnT modulates polymyxin B resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections is challenging due to its antibiotic resistance. Polymyxins are considered last-resort options for treating serious infections caused by multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of polymyxin resistance may provide clues for the development of new therapeutic strategies against P. aeruginosa. In this study, we demonstrated that the phosphatidic acid-phosphatase family (PAP2) protein LpxT interacts with L-Ara4N transferase ArnT and controls polymyxin B resistance in P. aeruginosa. Our findings reveal a novel role for lpxT and its molecular mechanism to defend against polymyxin B in P. aeruginosa.