| Abstract: | Using immunoelectrophoresis, the antigenicity of various protein fractions of the Micrococcus lysodeikticus membranes was evaluated. It was shown that both the peripheral and integral membrane proteins possess the antigenic determinants. The antiserum exhausted by the M. lysodeikticus mebranes loses its ability to interact with intergral proteins, which are not solubilized by Triton X-100. It was thus assumed that the integral proteins are exposed on the membrane surface constantly or periodically and that there exist no proteins which are completely and permanently incorporated into the lipid bilayer. The respiratory chain of the M. lysodeikticus membrane is inhibited by membrane immunoglobulins by 50%. This is probably due to the presence in the membrane antiserum of antibodies specific to the respiratory chain enzymes. Evidence for this assumption can be derived from the fact that partially purified cytochrome b556 forms a precipitation zone with the membrane antiserum and that the activity of membrane NADH-dehydrogenase is inhibited by a monoserum against NADH-dehydrogenase. |
