Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Journal of Bacteriology logoLink to Journal of Bacteriology
. 1978 Mar;133(3):1181–1189. doi: 10.1128/jb.133.3.1181-1189.1978

Outer Membrane Proteins of Escherichia coli VII. Evidence That Bacteriophage-Directed Protein 2 Functions as a Pore

Anthony P Pugsley 1, Carl A Schnaitman 1
PMCID: PMC222150  PMID: 346560

Abstract

Protein 1, a major protein of the outer membrane of Escherichia coli, has been shown to be the pore allowing the passage of small hydrophilic solutes across the outer membrane. In E. coli K-12 protein 1 consists of two subspecies, 1a and 1b, whereas in E. coli B it consists of a single species which has an electrophoretic mobility similar to that of 1a. K-12 strains mutant at the ompB locus lack both proteins 1a and 1b and exhibit multiple transport defects, resistance to toxic metal ions, and tolerance to a number of colicins. Mutation at the tolF locus results in the loss of 1a, in less severe transport defects, and more limited colicin tolerance. Mutation at the par locus causes the loss of protein 1b, but no transport defects or colicin tolerance. Lysogeny of E. coli by phage PA-2 results in the production of a new major protein, protein 2. Lysogeny of K-12 ompB mutants resulted in dramatic reversal of the transport defects and restoration of the sensitivity to colicins E2 and E3 but not to other colicins. This was shown to be due to the production of protein 2, since lysogeny by phage mutants lacking the ability to elicit protein 2 production did not show this effect. Thus, protein 2 can function as an effective pore. ompB mutations in E. coli B also resulted in loss of protein 1 and similar multiple transport defects, but these were only partially reversed by phage lysogeny and the resulting production of protein 2. When the ompB region from E. coli B was moved by transduction into an E. coli K-12 background, only small amounts of proteins 1a and 1b were found in the outer membrane. These results indicate that genes governing the synthesis of outer membrane proteins may not function interchangeably between K-12 and B strains, indicating differences in regulation or biosynthesis of these proteins between these strains.

Full text

PDF
1181

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Alphen W. V., Lugtenberg B. Influence of osmolarity of the growth medium on the outer membrane protein pattern of Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol. 1977 Aug;131(2):623–630. doi: 10.1128/jb.131.2.623-630.1977. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Bassford P. J., Jr, Diedrich D. L., Schnaitman C. L., Reeves P. Outer membrane proteins of Escherichia coli. VI. Protein alteration in bacteriophage-resistant mutants. J Bacteriol. 1977 Aug;131(2):608–622. doi: 10.1128/jb.131.2.608-622.1977. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Chai T. J., Foulds J. Escherichia coli K-12 tolF mutants: alterations in protein composition of the outer membrane. J Bacteriol. 1977 May;130(2):781–786. doi: 10.1128/jb.130.2.781-786.1977. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. DAVIS B. D., MINGIOLI E. S. Mutants of Escherichia coli requiring methionine or vitamin B12. J Bacteriol. 1950 Jul;60(1):17–28. doi: 10.1128/jb.60.1.17-28.1950. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Datta D. B., Arden B., Henning U. Major proteins of the Escherichia coli outer cell envelope membrane as bacteriophage receptors. J Bacteriol. 1977 Sep;131(3):821–829. doi: 10.1128/jb.131.3.821-829.1977. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Davies J. K., Reeves P. Genetics of resistance to colicins in Escherichia coli K-12: cross-resistance among colicins of group A. J Bacteriol. 1975 Jul;123(1):102–117. doi: 10.1128/jb.123.1.102-117.1975. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Diedrich D. L., Summers A. O., Schnaitman C. A. Outer membrane proteins of Escherichia coli. V. Evidence that protein 1 and bacteriophage-directed protein 2 are different polypeptides. J Bacteriol. 1977 Aug;131(2):598–607. doi: 10.1128/jb.131.2.598-607.1977. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Foulds J., Chai T. J. New major outer membrane proteins found in an Escherichia coli tolF mutant resistant to bacteriophage TuIb. J Bacteriol. 1978 Mar;133(3):1478–1483. doi: 10.1128/jb.133.3.1478-1483.1978. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Hancock R. E., Davies J. K., Reeves P. Cross-resistance between bacteriophages and colicins in Escherichia coli K-12. J Bacteriol. 1976 Jun;126(3):1347–1350. doi: 10.1128/jb.126.3.1347-1350.1976. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Henning U., Schmidmayr W., Hindennach I. Major proteins of the outer cell envelope membrane of Escherichia coli K-12: multiple species of protein I. Mol Gen Genet. 1977 Sep 9;154(3):293–298. doi: 10.1007/BF00571285. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Laemmli U. K. Cleavage of structural proteins during the assembly of the head of bacteriophage T4. Nature. 1970 Aug 15;227(5259):680–685. doi: 10.1038/227680a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Lutkenhaus J. F. Role of a major outer membrane protein in Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol. 1977 Aug;131(2):631–637. doi: 10.1128/jb.131.2.631-637.1977. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Nakae T. Identification of the outer membrane protein of E. coli that produces transmembrane channels in reconstituted vesicle membranes. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1976 Aug 9;71(3):877–884. doi: 10.1016/0006-291x(76)90913-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Nakae T. Outer membrane of Salmonella. Isolation of protein complex that produces transmembrane channels. J Biol Chem. 1976 Apr 10;251(7):2176–2178. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Nikaido H., Song S. A., Shaltiel L., Nurminen M. Outer membrane of Salmonella XIV. Reduced transmembrane diffusion rates in porin-deficient mutants. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1976 May 23;76(2):324–330. doi: 10.1016/0006-291x(77)90728-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Pugsley A. P., Reeves P. Characterization of group B colicin-resistant mutants of Escherichia coli K-12: colicin resistance and the role of enterochelin. J Bacteriol. 1976 Jul;127(1):218–228. doi: 10.1128/jb.127.1.218-228.1976. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Pugsley A. P., Reeves P. Uptake of ferrienterochelin by Escherichia coli: energy dependent stage of uptake. J Bacteriol. 1977 Apr;130(1):26–36. doi: 10.1128/jb.130.1.26-36.1977. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Szmelcman S., Hofnung M. Maltose transport in Escherichia coli K-12: involvement of the bacteriophage lambda receptor. J Bacteriol. 1975 Oct;124(1):112–118. doi: 10.1128/jb.124.1.112-118.1975. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Verhoef C., de Graaff P. J., Lugtenberg E. J. Mapping of a gene for a major outer membrane protein of Escherichia coli K12 with the aid of a newly isolated bacteriophage. Mol Gen Genet. 1977 Jan 7;150(1):103–105. doi: 10.1007/BF02425330. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. von Meyenburg Kaspar Transport-limited growth rates in a mutant of Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol. 1971 Sep;107(3):878–888. doi: 10.1128/jb.107.3.878-888.1971. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Bacteriology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES