Study of the Import Mechanisms of Colicins Through Protein Engineering and K+ Efflux Kinetics
Résumé
Colicin action is initiated by adsorption of the bacteriocin onto a specific receptor protein located in the outer membrane of susceptible cells. The presence or absence of such receptor proteins is a critical factor in defining the activity spectrum of a particular colicin (Graham & Stocker, 1977). The presence of an outer membrane receptor however is not, in itself, sufficient to bring about the lethal events. Following binding, the colicin has to be transported to its ultimate target. Mutant strains, possessing functional receptor, but which are not killed by a particular colicin have been isolated and described. Such mutants are usually denoted as “tolerant”.