Architecture of a complete Bce-type antimicrobial peptide resistance module.

Abstract in brief

• The Bce-type antimicrobial peptide resistance module in Gram-positive bacteria is a complex membrane protein assembly involving an ABC transporter and a sensor histidine kinase, crucial for sensing and resisting antimicrobial peptides like bacitracin and vancomycin.
• The study provides the first cryo-EM structural insights into how these components assemble into a functional complex, revealing unexpected mechanisms and flexibility in the sensor kinase, especially in the presence of ATP analogs.
• Biochemical data show that nucleotide binding to the complex primes it for activation, and the membrane proteins work together to tightly regulate resistance, highlighting intricate control over antimicrobial peptide responses.