Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Journal of Bacteriology logoLink to Journal of Bacteriology
. 1974 Dec;120(3):1464–1471. doi: 10.1128/jb.120.3.1464-1471.1974

R Factor Proteins Synthesized in Escherichia coli Minicells: Membrane-Associated R Factor Proteins1

Stuart B Levy a, Laura McMurry a, Edward Palmer a
PMCID: PMC245934  PMID: 4612024

Abstract

R factor proteins are synthesized in R factor-containing Escherichia coli minicells. Half of this protein remained associated with the minicell membrane upon lysis of the minicells. Over 90% of the membrane-associated protein was extracted by sodium lauryl sarcosinate, suggesting a location of these proteins in the inner membrane. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of these membrane preparations demonstrated the presence of multiple peptides, including a prominent band with a molecular weight of 28,000 to 30,000. A polypeptide of similar size was seen in membrane preparations from minicells harboring R factors from five different compatibility types. This major R factor membrane peptide was seen with R factors repressed or derepressed for pilus synthesis, with and without antibiotic resistances. It was associated with R factor deoxyribonucleic acid in membrane-deoxyribonucleic acid complexes. Its possible role in R factor replication and/or transfer is being investigated.

Full text

PDF
1464

Images in this article

1467Image
on p.1467
1468Image
on p.1468
1469Image
on p.1469

Selected References

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

  1. Adler H. I., Fisher W. D., Cohen A., Hardigree A. A. MINIATURE escherichia coli CELLS DEFICIENT IN DNA. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1967 Feb;57(2):321–326. doi: 10.1073/pnas.57.2.321. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Datta N., Hedges R. W. Compatibility groups among fi - R factors. Nature. 1971 Nov 26;234(5326):222–223. doi: 10.1038/234222a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Filip C., Fletcher G., Wulff J. L., Earhart C. F. Solubilization of the cytoplasmic membrane of Escherichia coli by the ionic detergent sodium-lauryl sarcosinate. J Bacteriol. 1973 Sep;115(3):717–722. doi: 10.1128/jb.115.3.717-722.1973. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Inouye M., Yee M. L. Homogeneity of envelope proteins of Escherichia coli separated by gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate. J Bacteriol. 1973 Jan;113(1):304–312. doi: 10.1128/jb.113.1.304-312.1973. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Inselburg J. R factor deoxyribonucleic acid in chromosomeless progeny of Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol. 1971 Feb;105(2):620–628. doi: 10.1128/jb.105.2.620-628.1971. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Jarolmen H., Kemp G. R factor transmission in vivo. J Bacteriol. 1969 Aug;99(2):487–490. doi: 10.1128/jb.99.2.487-490.1969. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Levy S. B., McMurry L. Detection of an inducible membrane protein associated with R-factor-mediated tetracycline resistance. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1974 Feb 27;56(4):1060–1068. doi: 10.1016/s0006-291x(74)80296-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Levy S. B., Norman P. Segregation of transferable R factors into Escherichia coli minicells. Nature. 1970 Aug 8;227(5258):606–607. doi: 10.1038/227606a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Levy S. B. Physical and functional characteristics of R-factor deoxyribonucleic acid segregated into Escherichia coli minicells. J Bacteriol. 1971 Oct;108(1):300–308. doi: 10.1128/jb.108.1.300-308.1971. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Levy S. B. R factor proteins synthesized in Escherichia coli minicells: incorporation studies with different R factors and detection of deoxyribonucleic acid-binding proteins. J Bacteriol. 1974 Dec;120(3):1451–1463. doi: 10.1128/jb.120.3.1451-1463.1974. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. MALAMY M., HORECKER B. L. The localization of alkaline phosphatase in E. coli K12. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1961 Jun 2;5:104–108. doi: 10.1016/0006-291x(61)90020-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Neu H. C., Heppel L. A. The release of enzymes from Escherichia coli by osmotic shock and during the formation of spheroplasts. J Biol Chem. 1965 Sep;240(9):3685–3692. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. ORSKOV I., ORSKOV F. An antigen termed f-plus occurring in F-plus E. coli strains. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand. 1960;48:37–46. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Orskov I., Orskov F. Episome-carried surface antigen K88 of Escherichia coli. I. Transmission of the determinant of the K88 antigen and influence on the transfer of chromosomal markers. J Bacteriol. 1966 Jan;91(1):69–75. doi: 10.1128/jb.91.1.69-75.1966. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Osborn M. J., Gander J. E., Parisi E., Carson J. Mechanism of assembly of the outer membrane of Salmonella typhimurium. Isolation and characterization of cytoplasmic and outer membrane. J Biol Chem. 1972 Jun 25;247(12):3962–3972. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Romero E., Riva S., Fietta A. M., Silvestri L. G. Effect of R factors on rifampicin resistance in E. coli. Nat New Biol. 1971 Nov 10;234(45):56–58. doi: 10.1038/newbio234056a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Roozen K. J., Fenwick R. G., Jr, Curtiss R., 3rd Synthesis of ribonucleic acid and protein in plasmid-containing minicells of Escherichia coli K-12. J Bacteriol. 1971 Jul;107(1):21–33. doi: 10.1128/jb.107.1.21-33.1971. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Schnaitman C. A. Effect of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, Triton X-100, and lysozyme on the morphology and chemical composition of isolate cell walls of Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol. 1971 Oct;108(1):553–563. doi: 10.1128/jb.108.1.553-563.1971. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Schnaitman C. A. Protein composition of the cell wall and cytoplasmic membrane of Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol. 1970 Nov;104(2):890–901. doi: 10.1128/jb.104.2.890-901.1970. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Schnaitman C. A. Solubilization of the cytoplasmic membrane of Escherichia coli by Triton X-100. J Bacteriol. 1971 Oct;108(1):545–552. doi: 10.1128/jb.108.1.545-552.1971. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Studier F. W., Maizel J. V., Jr T7-directed protein synthesis. Virology. 1969 Nov;39(3):575–586. doi: 10.1016/0042-6822(69)90105-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Tremblay G. Y., Daniels M. J., Schaechter M. Isolation of a cell membrane-DNA-nascent RNA complex from bacteria. J Mol Biol. 1969 Feb 28;40(1):65–76. doi: 10.1016/0022-2836(69)90296-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. WATANABE T. Infective heredity of multiple drug resistance in bacteria. Bacteriol Rev. 1963 Mar;27:87–115. doi: 10.1128/br.27.1.87-115.1963. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

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

RESOURCES