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Biomedical subjects

V Braun

Publications and source records attributed to V Braun.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources
PubMed1974

Isolation, characterization, and action of colicin M.

Colicin M was isolated from Escherichia coli K-12 32T 19F/T1. The purified, biologically active protein had a molecular weight of 27,000. It contained phosphatidyl ethanolamine. The molecular weight found for the polypeptide chain by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate was 18,000. Colicin M was found to be firmly integrated in the membrane of the producing strain. The action of the colicin seems to be on the membrane, since cells of the susceptible strain E. coli K-12 ROW/V/22.1 lyse rapidly. Using the phase contrast microscope, lysis was followed by decrease in turbidity of the cell culture and release of protein into the medium. Lysis started at about 15 min after addition of colicin M and was completed after 40 to 60 min. At this time, one-third of the protein had been released from the cells. The number of viable cells dropped within 10 min to 0.01%. Colicin M induced formation of spheroplasts in the presence of 16% sucrose. The electron microscope examination revealed that at first bulges in the cell envelope appear, most frequently occurring equatorially but also occurring at sites all over the cell. In the process of spheroplast formation, the cytoplasmic membrane often retreats from one-half of the outer membrane so that the cytoplasm is confined to one hemisphere. Sucrose did not prevent cells from dying unless cells were pregrown in a sucrose containing medium for several generations before colicin M was added. With cells pregrown in the presence of sucrose, the number of survivors was 100 times higher than in the absence of sucrose.

Colicins↗
PubMed1973

Model for the structure of the shape-maintaining layer of the Escherichia coli cell envelope.

The surface area per repeating murein unit (i.e. per molecule of diaminopimelate) has been determined for the cell envelopes of the Escherichia coli strains K-12 and W. This area was constantly found to be 1.3 nm(2). Using this value and other previously determined properties of E. coli murein, a three-dimensional model of murein is proposed. The model specifies a monomolecular layer in which disaccharide units are each 1.03 nm long, and the polysaccharide chains, all parallel, are 1.25 nm apart. The cross-linking peptide side-chains have the same atomic coordinates and are arranged above or below the polysaccharide chains.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1972

Repetitive sequences in the murein-lipoprotein of the cell wall of Escherichia coli.

The amino-acid sequence of the murein-lipoprotein of the Escherichia coli cell wall is presented. This protein is covalently bound to a lipid component as well as to the murein (peptidoglycan, mucopeptide). The sequence is also highly repetitive. At the N-terminal portion, there are three adjacent almost identical sequences, indicating repeated duplication of a gene coding originally for 15 amino acids. The C-terminal part of the polypeptide chain is more variable but still shows striking homology when certain sequence gaps are introduced. The lipid is bound to the N-terminal serine of the dipeptide (Ser-Ser) that extends from the repetitive sequence. At the C-terminal end where the murein is bound, a tripeptide extends from the repetitive portion. Here there are several basic amino acids and the only aromatic amino acid in the lipoprotein. The sequence is Lys-Tyr-Arg-Lys. The linkage to the murein is formed between the epsilon-amino group of the C-terminal lysine and the carboxyl group of the optical L-center of meso-diaminopimelic acid. The polypeptide chain is composed of 57 amino acids and lacks glycine, proline, cysteine, phenylalanine, histidine, and tryptophan. 63% of the amino acids are hydrophilic, but because of the covalently linked lipid this structural membrane protein has very hydrophobic properties.

Amino Acid Sequence↗