Export without proteolytic processing of inner and outer membrane proteins encoded by F sex factor tra cistrons in Escherichia coli minicells.

Abstract

Most tra proteins encoded by the E. coli F sex factor are incorporated into the minicell envelope. The tra proteins were assigned to cytoplasm (TraIp and 2b), inner membrane (TraEp, TraMp and TraSp), and outer membrane (6e, TraAp, TraBp, TraJp, TraKp, TraLp and TraTp). Two proteins, TraDp and 6d, were associated with both inner and outer membranes. The proteins exported to the inner or outer membranes did not undergo proteolytic cleavage (processing) whereas .beta.-lactamase was processed normally.