Cloning and expression in Escherichia coli K-12 of the genes for major outer membrane protein OmpA from Shigella dysenteriae, Enterobacter aerogenes, and Serratia marcescens

Abstract

The outer membranes of many gram-negative bacteria contain a major heat-modifiable protein which shows serological cross-reactivity with the OmpA protein of E. coli K12. Using the cloned gene for the E. coli K12 protein as a DNA-DNA hybridization probe, the corresponding genes from S. dysenteriae, E. aerogenes and S. marcescens were identified. These were cloned in a phage .lambda. vector, and their expression in E. coli K12 was studied. All 3 OmpA proteins were fully produced and correctly exported to the outer membrane. In several cases, complete or partial restoration of known functions of the E. coli K12 protein was observed.