YibN, a bona fide interactor of the bacterial YidC insertase with effects on membrane protein insertion and membrane lipid production

YidC, a prominent member of the Oxa1 superfamily, is essential for the biogenesis of the bacterial inner membrane, significantly influencing its protein composition and lipid organization. It interacts with the Sec translocon, aiding the proper folding of multi-pass membrane proteins. It also functions independently, serving as an insertase and lipid scramblase, augmenting the insertion of smaller membrane proteins while contributing to the organization of the bilayer. Despite the wealth of structural and biochemical data available, how YidC operates remains unclear. To investigate this, we employed proximity-dependent biotin labeling (BioID) in Escherichia coli, leading to the identification of YibN as a crucial component within the YidC protein environment. We then demonstrated the association between YidC and YibN by affinity purification-mass spectrometry assays conducted on native membranes, with further confirmation using on-gel binding assays with purified proteins. Co-expression studies and in vitro assays indicated that YibN enhances the production and membrane insertion of YidC substrates, such as M13 and Pf3 phage coat proteins, ATP synthase subunit c, and various small membrane proteins like SecG. Additionally, the overproduction of YibN was found to stimulate membrane lipid production and promote inner membrane proliferation, perhaps by interfering with YidC lipid scramblase activity. Consequently, YibN emerges as a significant physical and functional interactor of YidC, influencing membrane protein insertion and lipid organization.