Structural mechanisms of pump assembly and drug transport in the AcrAB-TolC efflux system

Tripartite multidrug efflux pumps that span the cell envelope are essential for antibiotic resistance in Gram-negative bacteria. Here, we report cryo-EM structures of two native efflux complexes from Escherichia coli : a TolC–YbjP subcomplex at 3.56 Å resolution and the complete TolC–YbjP–AcrABZ pump at 3.39 Å. Structural analysis reveals that YbjP, a previously uncharacterized lipoprotein, binds TolC in a 3:3 stoichiometry, bridging its protomers at the equatorial domain. Clear density of the mature YbjP’s N-terminal Cys19 indicates that YbjP is anchored to the outer membrane by an N-terminal lipid moiety. Notably, YbjP remains bound as TolC undergoes AcrA-induced opening, suggesting that this accessory protein accommodates the conformational change. The AcrB trimer simultaneously presents three distinct conformational states (L, T, O), capturing a complete transport cycle. These high-resolution structures provide insights into the architecture and mechanism of clinically relevant efflux machinery, identifying YbjP as a previously unrecognized structural component that contributes to TolC positioning and may assist in its membrane localization—offering potential new targets for therapeutic intervention.