�y��vlog

Previous work has shown that a greasy functional group called palmitate is incorporated into LPS when phospholipids are present at the external surface8.

Such palmitate incorporation has also been reported in bacteria carrying mutations in components of the transport systems that move LPS towards the outer membrane9 and phospholipids away from it10,11.

However, directly blocking LPS biosynthesis can also lead to LPS depletion, and to incorporation of palmitate in outer-membrane LPS14,15.

Clairfeuille et al. demonstrate the presence of palmitate in the outer-membrane LPS of a PbgA mutant.

Accumulation of palmitate can shift the activity of FADS2 towards favouring palmitate as its substrate, and can thereby promote sapienate production7.