Unveiling the role of BON domain-containing proteins in antibiotic resistance

Front Microbiol. 2025 Jan 7:15:1518045. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1518045. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

The alarming rise of antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria poses a global health crisis. Their unique outer membrane restricts antibiotic access. While diffusion porins are well-studied, the role of BON domain-containing proteins (BDCPs) in resistance remains unexplored. We analyze protein databases, revealing widespread BDCP distribution across environmental bacteria. We further describe their conserved core domain structure, a key for understanding antibiotic transport. Elucidating the genetic and biochemical basis of BDCPs offers a novel target to combat antibiotic resistance and restore bacterial susceptibility to antibiotics.

Keywords: BON domain-containing protein; antibiotic resistance; cell envelope; pathogens; structure and function.

Publication types

  • Review

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. JC acknowledges UKRI funding (EP/Z002990/1, EP/V049615/2).