- Protein K (porin)
Protein K is a
porin expressed in somepathogenic strains ofE. coli bacteria . It has amolecular weight of about 40 kDa and is localized to theouter membrane , through which it allows bothinorganic and organicion s to pass.The strains in which protein K has been identified are "encapsulated", or surrounded by a poly-
sialic acid capsule that renders them more resistant tophagocytosis by cells in theimmune system .References
* Whitfield C, Hancock RE, Costerson JW. (1983). Outer membrane protein K of Escherichia coli: purification and pore-forming properties in lipid bilayer membranes. "J Bacteriol" 156(2): 873-879
* Sutcliffe J, Blumenthal R, Walter A, Foulds J. (1983). Escherichia coli outer membrane protein K is a porin. "J Bacteriol" 156(2): 867-872
* Bliss JM, Solver RP. (1996). Coating the surface: a model for expression of capsular polysialic acid in Escherichia coli K1. "Mol Microbiol" 21:221.
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