Lipid A Biosynthesis

Lipid A, a constituent of the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria, is a structurally unique molecule that does not exist in animal cells. The lipid A of most gram-negative bacteria is structurally similar, with analogous biosynthetic steps. These facts, combined with the fact that lipid A is required for the survival of most, if not all gram-negative bacteria, make lipid A biosynthesis an excellent target for antibiotics.