Über die Zellmembran von Escherichia Coli B

Abstract

Dissociation in 90% phenol uncovers a layer of the Coli B-cell membrane showing the typical antiviral specificity of the receptor for phages T3, T4 and T7. Chemical analysis proved glucose, glucosamine and a yet unknown carbohydrate, probably a heptose, to be components of the receptor material, which amounts to about 13% of the dry weight of the whole membrane. Analogous material obtained from the membrane of B/3,4,7, a B-mutant resistant against phages T3, T4 and T7, has no activity against these phages and contains glucosamine and small amounts of glucose, but no heptose. In view of similar findings of Jesaitis and Goebel with T3,4,7 - receptor material from Shigella Sonnei, the rôle of the heptose as a characteristic and functionally indispensable component of lipocarbohydrates with receptor activity against T3, T4 and T7 is discussed.