Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-29-2005

Abstract

Escherichia coli yaeT encodes an essential, conserved outer membrane (OM) protein that is an ortholog of Neisseria meningitidis Omp85. Conflicting data with TV. meningitidis indicate that Omp85 functions either in assembly of OM proteins or in export of OM lipids. The role of YaeT in E. coli was investigated with a new temperature-sensitive mutant harboring nine amino acid substitutions. The mutant stops growing after 60 min at 44 °C. After 30 min at 44 °C, incorporation of [35S]methionine into newly synthesized OM proteins is selectively inhibited. Synthesis and export of OM phospholipids and lipopolysaccharide are not impaired. OM protein levels are low, even at 30 °C, and the buoyant density of the OM is correspondingly lower. By Western blotting, we show that levels of the major OM protein OmpA are lower in the mutant in whole cells, membranes, and the growth medium. SecA functions as a multicopy suppressor of the temperature-sensitive phenotype and partially restores OM proteins. Our data are consistent with a critical role for YaeT in OM protein assembly in E. coli. © 2005 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Journal of Biological Chemistry

First Page

27679

Last Page

27687

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