The effects of the bactericidal protein colicin K have been compared on a normal strain of Escherichia coli and a derivative, uncA, that is defective in Ca2+,Mg2+-activated ATPase activity. The syntheses of DNA, RNA, and proteins, which are completely arrested by colicin K in the normal E. coli cells, are only reduced by 30 to 50% in the ATPase-deficient cells. Intracellular ATP levels, which a...

To explore the molecular mechanisms behind the diversification of colicin gene clusters, we examined DNA sequence polymorphism for the colicin gene clusters of 14 colicin E2 (ColE2) plasmids obtained from natural isolates of Escherichia coli. Two types of ColE2 plasmids are revealed, with type II gene clusters generated by recombination between type I ColE2 and ColE7 gene clusters. The levels a...

The Tol-Pal proteins of the cell envelope of Escherichia coli are required for maintaining outer membrane integrity. This system forms protein complexes in which TolA plays a central role by providing a bridge between the inner and outer membranes via its interaction with the Pal lipoprotein. The Tol proteins are parasitized by filamentous bacteriophages and group A colicins. The N-terminal dom...

The effects of the bactericidal protein colicin K have been compared on a normal strain of Escherichia coli and a derivative, uncA, that is defective in Ca2+,Mg2+-activated ATPase activity. The syntheses of DNA, RNA, and proteins, which are completely arrested by colicin K in the normal E. coli cells, are only reduced by 30 to 50% in the ATPase-deficient cells. Intracellular ATP levels, which a...

Spheroplasts are insensitive to colicin E(2) and do not show deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) degradation even in the presence of massive amounts of E(2). However, when both endonuclease I and E(2) were present, spheroplast DNA was degraded by an endonucleolytic activity which gave rise primarily to double-strand DNA cleavages, producing fragments having an average molecular weight of 9 x 10(6). Pan...

An agar diffusion method for the assay of colicins A, B, D, E(2), E(3), and K is described. The assays were performed in large, square pyrex dishes that contained an agar layer seeded with an indicator organism sensitive to the colicin. The samples were applied to the agar in steatite beads positioned in a randomized sequence. The plates were stored at 4 C for 24 hr to allow the colicins to dif...

A mathematical model describing the dynamics of a colicinogenic and a colicin-sensitive population propagated under serial transfer culture conditions was formulated. In addition, a series of in vitro invasion experiments using six representatives of the E colicin group was undertaken, together with the estimation of the growth rates and colicinogenic characteristics of the strains. Growth rate...

We report the transcriptional response of Escherichia coli MG1655 to damage induced by colicins E3 and E9, bacteriocins that kill cells through inactivation of the ribosome and degradation of chromosomal DNA, respectively. Colicin E9 strongly induced the LexA-regulated SOS response, while colicin E3 elicited a broad response that included the induction of cold shock genes, symptomatic of transl...

Lipopolysaccharide isolated from colicin E2-sensitive Escherichia coli and from "receptor-minus" mutants inhibits the activity of colicin E2. Lipid A and the polysaccharide fraction obtained by mild acid hydrolysis of lipopolysaccharide are inactive either alone or when tested in combination. Periodate oxidation of lipopolysaccharide destroys over 85% of its inhibition activity.