Three bacterial DedA subfamilies with distinct functions and phylogenetic distribution

Recent studies in bacteria suggested that the broadly conserved but enigmatic DedA proteins function as undecaprenyl-phosphate (UndP) flippases, recycling this essential lipid carrier. To determine whether all DedA proteins have UndP flippase activity, we performed a phylogenetic analysis and correlated it to previously published experimental results and predicted structures. We uncovered three major DedA subfamilies: one contains UndP flippases, the second contains putative phospholipid flippases and is associated with aerobic metabolism, and the third is found only in specific Gram-negative phyla.