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. 1988 Jan;170(1):439–441. doi: 10.1128/jb.170.1.439-441.1988

EnvZ functions through OmpR to control porin gene expression in Escherichia coli K-12.

J M Slauch 1, S Garrett 1, D E Jackson 1, T J Silhavy 1
PMCID: PMC210662  PMID: 2826400

Abstract

The regulatory proteins OmpR and EnvZ are both required to activate expression of the genes for the major outer membrane porin proteins, OmpF and OmpC, of Escherichia coli K-12. Here we show that OmpR, under certain conditions, could activate porin expression in the complete absence of EnvZ. In addition, the pleiotropic phenotypes conferred by a particular envZ mutation (envZ473) required the presence of functional OmpR protein. These results lead us to conclude that EnvZ and OmpR act in sequential fashion to activate porin gene expression; i.e., EnvZ modifies or in some way directs OmpR, which in turn acts at the appropriate porin gene promoter.

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Selected References

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