Premium
Immunity protein is not required for the bactericidal activity of colicin E3
Author(s) -
Escuyer V.,
Perrin D.,
Mock M.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2958.1989.tb00229.x
Subject(s) - colicin , biology , escherichia coli , immunity , cell envelope , microbiology and biotechnology , immune system , biochemistry , gene , genetics
Summary Plasmid pLAX3, carrying the colicin E3 gene, was used to direct the in vitro synthesis of a colicin E3*molecule totally devoid of its immunity protein. We established that this molecule is able to kill sensitive Escherichia coli cells in the total absence of immunity protein. Therefore, all of the information required for colicin E3 action is located on the colicin potypeptide itself. Furthermore, our studies indicated that immunity protein protects the C‐terminal enzymatic part of native colicin E3 protein against proteolytic degradation before or during its translocation across the cell envelope. These results are discussed in relation to the mode of entry of colicin E3 into bacterial cells.