The RpfF Acyl-ACP thioesterase of major rice pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae is essential for maintenance of membrane function and virulence.

The acyl-ACP thioesterase activity of RpfF is essential for maintaining membrane integrity and virulence in Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, with a 66% reduction in fatty acid synthesis.

• Why it matters: Understanding how bacterial pathogens sustain membrane function and virulence is critical for developing targeted control strategies, as membrane integrity is vital for bacterial survival and pathogenicity.
• What they did: The study used gene deletion and complementation with foreign thioesterases to demonstrate that RpfF’s thioesterase activity restores membrane lipid synthesis, bacterial growth, and virulence, with fatty acid synthesis reduced to one-third in its absence.
• The result: Restoring RpfF’s thioesterase activity reestablished membrane lipid levels and virulence, highlighting its role as a key regulator of fatty acid synthesis and membrane homeostasis, alongside its quorum-sensing function.