Figure 2. Heterologous expression of OsIFL in E. coli cells improves their tolerance to salinity and osmotic stress.

(a) Induction of OsIFL protein expression by 0.3mM IPTG at 22 °C, UI: un-induced, 2h, 4h and 6h: hours after IPTG induction. pET: proteins extracted from vector alone transformed cells. pET+OsIFL: proteins extracted from pET+OsIFL transformed cells; (b) Western blotting using anti-His antibodies. Relative growth of WT cells (BL21), vector transformed (WT+ vector) and pETOsIFL transformed cells (WT+OsIFL) on (c) LB media; (d) LB supplemented with 0.3 mM IPTG and kanamycin; (e) LB supplemented with 0.3 mM IPTG, kanamycin and NaCl (400 mM) or (f) Mannitol (400 mM). Initial O.D₆₀₀ ~ 0.3 and subsequent serial dilution (10⁻¹ to 10⁻⁶) used for these assays. Plates were incubated at 37 °C and images were taken after 72 h.