JBC, Vol. 252, Issue 7, 2324-2330, Apr, 1977
A new form of structural lipoprotein of outer membrane of Escherichia coli
S. Halegoua, J. Sekizawa and M. Inouye
Among the membrane proteins synthesized in toluene-treated cells of
Escherichia coli were two distinct membrane proteins of different molecular
weights, which were cross-reactive with antiserum against a structural
lipoprotein of the outer membrane. One was thought to be the known membrane
lipoprotein since it migrated to the same position as that of the
lipoprotein (Mr = 7,200) in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel
electrophoresis. However, the other protein migrated slower than the
lipoprotein. No protein corresponding to the slower-migrating species was
detected in the membrane proteins synthesized in vivo. The apparent
molecular weight of the protein at the new peak was estimated to be between
10,000 and 15,000. Both the new protein and the lipoprotein were found to
be synthesized from stable mRNA(s) in the toluene-treated cells. The
synthesis of the new protein as well as the lipoprotein was sensitive to
chloramphenicol, indicating that both proteins were synthesized on
ribosomes. Peptides mapping of the new protein revealed the same
COOH-terminal sequence as in the lipoprotein. This indicates that the new
protein has an extra sequence at the NH2-terminal end. This hypothesis is
supported by the finding that the NH2 terminus of the new lipoprotein is
methionine, while that of the lipoprotein is a substituted cysteine. From
double label experiments with each of 17 different amino acids and
arginine, the amino acid composition of the extra region was deduced. The
new protein was found to contain at least 18 to 19 extra amino acid
residues over the lipoprotein, if it is assumed that the new protein has no
extra arginine residues. It was found that 4 out of the 5 amino acids which
were deficient in the lipoprotein (phenylalanine, tryptophan, proline, and
histidine) were also deficient in the new protein, but the fifth one,
glycine, was present in the new protein. From these results, it seems
possible that this new form of the lipoprotine is a precursor of the
lipoprotein (prolipoprotein) in the process of biosynthesis and assembly of
the lipoprotein in the outer membrane.