Proteins induced by high osmotic pressure in Escherichia coli

Abstract The protein composition of Escherichia coli grown under conditions of high and low osmotic pressure and following shifts from one condition to the other was examined by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Upon shift to high osmotic pressure there is a rapid induction of a group of proteins whose synthesis persists during prolonged growth at elevated osmotic pressure. An osmotic down-shift results in the repression of these proteins. Neither shift induced the heat shock regulon.