The localisation of phoE and β-galactosidase antigens in wild type and phoE/lacZ hybrid Escherichia coli

Abstract

PhoE, one of the outer membrane proteins in E. coli K-12 cells, is involved in the uptake of small hydrophilic, especially negatively charged solutes. Its synthesis is induced upon phosphate limitation. Several models have been proposed for the mechanism of transport and incorporation of outer membrane proteins into the outer membrane. Escherichia coli cells containing a hybrid phoE/lacZ gene were studied to investigate the destination of the hybrid gene product, using an immunocytochemical labeling procedure and ultra-thin cryosectioning