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Microbial Cell Biology

Cytoplasmic Protein Mobility in Osmotically Stressed Escherichia coli

Michael C. Konopka, Kem A. Sochacki, Benjamin P. Bratton, Irina A. Shkel, M. Thomas Record, James C. Weisshaar
Michael C. Konopka
1Department of Chemistry, 1101 University Avenue
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Kem A. Sochacki
1Department of Chemistry, 1101 University Avenue
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Benjamin P. Bratton
1Department of Chemistry, 1101 University Avenue
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Irina A. Shkel
1Department of Chemistry, 1101 University Avenue
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M. Thomas Record
1Department of Chemistry, 1101 University Avenue
2Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
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James C. Weisshaar
1Department of Chemistry, 1101 University Avenue
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  • For correspondence: weisshaar@chem.wisc.edu
DOI: 10.1128/JB.00536-08
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ABSTRACT

Facile diffusion of globular proteins within a cytoplasm that is dense with biopolymers is essential to normal cellular biochemical activity and growth. Remarkably, Escherichia coli grows in minimal medium over a wide range of external osmolalities (0.03 to 1.8 osmol). The mean cytoplasmic biopolymer volume fraction (〈φ〉) for such adapted cells ranges from 0.16 at 0.10 osmol to 0.36 at 1.45 osmol. For cells grown at 0.28 osmol, a similar 〈φ〉 range is obtained by plasmolysis (sudden osmotic upshift) using NaCl or sucrose as the external osmolyte, after which the only available cellular response is passive loss of cytoplasmic water. Here we measure the effective axial diffusion coefficient of green fluorescent protein (D GFP) in the cytoplasm of E. coli cells as a function of 〈φ〉 for both plasmolyzed and adapted cells. For plasmolyzed cells, the median D GFP ($$mathtex$$\(D_{GFP}^{m}\)$$mathtex$$ ) decreases by a factor of 70 as 〈φ〉 increases from 0.16 to 0.33. In sharp contrast, for adapted cells, $$mathtex$$\(D_{GFP}^{m}\)$$mathtex$$ decreases only by a factor of 2.1 as 〈φ〉 increases from 0.16 to 0.36. Clearly, GFP diffusion is not determined by 〈φ〉 alone. By comparison with quantitative models, we show that the data cannot be explained by crowding theory. We suggest possible underlying causes of this surprising effect and further experiments that will help choose among competing hypotheses. Recovery of the ability of proteins to diffuse in the cytoplasm after plasmolysis may well be a key determinant of the time scale of the recovery of growth.

  • Copyright © 2009 American Society for Microbiology
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Cytoplasmic Protein Mobility in Osmotically Stressed Escherichia coli
Michael C. Konopka, Kem A. Sochacki, Benjamin P. Bratton, Irina A. Shkel, M. Thomas Record, James C. Weisshaar
Journal of Bacteriology Dec 2008, 191 (1) 231-237; DOI: 10.1128/JB.00536-08

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Cytoplasmic Protein Mobility in Osmotically Stressed Escherichia coli
Michael C. Konopka, Kem A. Sochacki, Benjamin P. Bratton, Irina A. Shkel, M. Thomas Record, James C. Weisshaar
Journal of Bacteriology Dec 2008, 191 (1) 231-237; DOI: 10.1128/JB.00536-08
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KEYWORDS

Cytoplasm
Escherichia coli K12
Escherichia coli Proteins

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