31P nuclear magnetic resonance and freeze-fracture electron microscopy studies on Escherichia coli. III. The outer membrane

Abstract

1. 1. The outer membrane of a phospholipase A-deficient mutant of Escherichia coli K12, isolated without the use of EDTA and lysozyme, showed the same freeze-fracture morphology as that seen in cells and remained stable for hours as observed by 31P-NMR.

2. 2. 31P-NMR spectroscopy of the isolated outer membranes revealed that the lipopolysaccharide exists in the same physical state as in phospholipid-lipopolysaccharide liposomes and is most probably arranged in a bilayer at 37°C. The outer membrane contains most or all of the phospholipids at 37°C, and all the phospholipids at 20°C, as a bilayer.

3. 3. The 31P-NMR spectroscopy of the outer membranes from a mutant strain lacking the major outer membrane proteins b, c and d (60% of the total outer membrane protein) yields virtually the same spectrum as the wild-type outer membranes, although most of the particles and pits which were observed in wild-type outer membranes in freeze-fracture electron microscopy were absent.

4. 4. Whereas treatment of wild-type outer membranes with calcium ions has no effect on the 31P-NMR spectrum, treatment with EDTA results in more motion of the lipopolysaccharide.