Defining the lipoproteome of Thermus thermophilus type strain HB8

Members of the phylum Deinococcota (Deinococcus-Thermus) have complex layered cell envelopes which dictate their interactions with the often-extreme environments in which they live. To further understand cell envelope composition, we have used bioinformatic analyses to investigate the membrane-anchored lipoproteins present in the type strain Thermus thermophilus HB8. This analysis identified 32 putative lipoproteins in the predicted proteome of strain HB8. Functional analyses indicated that these participate in functions including degradative processes, an RND efflux system, a likely periplasmic sulfur relay (sulfurtransferase) and energy transduction via an Alternative Complex III. However, it is notable that the majority of lipoproteins identified (20/32) are of unknown function. Most of the lipoproteins with a predicted function could be confidently localised to either the plasma or outer membrane, whilst the locations of those of unknown function remain to be determined.