Figure 5.

Influence of the hfq1 mutation on the ompA mRNA stability analyzed by Northern blotting. Mutant and parent cells were cultured in either LB or Mops-acetate medium. In the middle of exponential phase, transcription was blocked by rifampicin and aliquots were taken out at the indicated (in min) time points. Total RNAs were isolated by the method of hot phenol extraction, separated on 1% agarose gels, transferred to nitrocellulose filter, and hybridized with the ³²P-labeled DNA probe, complemented to the coding region of the ompA gene.