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Phenol-induced membrane changes in free and immobilized Escherichia coli

  • Applied Microbiology
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Summary

Membranes of Escherichia coli cells grown in the presence of phenol were examined after isolation of the cytoplasmic and outer membrane fractions. Both membrane types showed reduced lipid-to-protein ratios compared to cells grown without phenol. Phenol-induced differences in the expression of individual proteins of the outer membrane, probably involved in the uptake of iron, were expressed in smaller quantities after phenol addition. Growth in the presence of phenol increased the respiratory activity of the cytoplasmic membrane, whereas the direct inhibition of O2 consumption by phenol was not affected by the presence of this compound in the growth medium. E. coli cells grown entrapped in calcium alginate showed low lipid-to-protein ratios even without phenol in the growth medium. Immobilization of cells also markedly changed the protein pattern of the outer membrane.

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  1. Institut für Mikrobiologie, Universität Münster, Corrensstrasse 3, D-4400, Münster, Federal Republic of Germany

    Heribert Keweloh, Gerd Weyrauch & Hans-Jürgen Rehm

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  1. Heribert Keweloh
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  2. Gerd Weyrauch
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  3. Hans-Jürgen Rehm
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Keweloh, H., Weyrauch, G. & Rehm, HJ. Phenol-induced membrane changes in free and immobilized Escherichia coli . Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 33, 66–71 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00170572

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00170572

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