The outer membrane of Haemophilus influenzae type b: cell envelope associations of major proteins

Abstract

Membrane proteins fom the cell envelope of Haemophilus influenzae type b ATCC 9795 were examined by sodium dodecyl sulphate – polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. When envelopes were extracted with a phosphate-based buffer containing 2% Triton X-100, a major protein of molecular weight 43 000 was detected in fractions containing cytoplasmic membrane proteins. The cell wall material which was Triton X-100 insoluble contained six major proteins of molecular weights 46 000, 40 000, 36 000, 30 000, 27 000, and 16 000. One of these proteins showed a shift in molecular weight from 27 000 to 36 000 when it was heated over a temperature range from 50 °C to 100 °C in buffer containing 2% sodium dodecyl sulphate, 5% 2-mercaptoethanol. This alteration in mobility could be demonstrated either by the membrane-bound form of the protein or by a detergent-soluble form of the protein. Enriched preparations of the 36 000 molecular weight form were obtained by a series of purification steps. Extraction of the Triton X-100 insoluble material with buffer containing 2% Triton X-100, 5.0 mM EDTA yielded chiefly one major protein molecular weight 30 000 and many minor protein species. Pretreatment of the Triton X-100 insoluble fraction with lysozyme followed by extraction with buffer containing 2% Triton X-100, 5.0 mM EDTA released two proteins of molecular weights 16 000 and 27 000 and few minor proteins. By these operational manipulations, the proteins of molecular weights 16 000 and 27 000 may be considered as peptidoglycan-associated proteins.