Science & tech · 2007
Can a protein-cutting enzyme on a bacterium's surface help control protein problems inside the cell?
The researchers concluded that OmpT protease, known to localize on the cell surface, is involved in protein quality control inside the cell. Introducing the wild-type ompT gene into Escherichia coli BL21 restored the wild-type phenotype.
Details
The researchers had recently found that Escherichia coli strain BL21 cells producing the fusion protein GST-Sup35NM lost their colony-forming ability much faster during the stationary phase than control cells.
In this laboratory study, an extract of the cells producing GST-Sup35NM was found to form fibrous protein polymers containing GST-Sup35NM.
During the study, the researchers realized that strain BL21 carried an ompT mutation. They suspected that a deficiency in OmpT protease was responsible for the observed phenotype.
To test this, they introduced the wild-type ompT gene into strain BL21. The transformed cells recovered the wild-type phenotype.
The researchers concluded that OmpT protease, although known to localize on the cell surface, is involved in protein quality control within the cell.
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