Analysis of Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins

The cell envelope of Gram-negative bacteria comprises an inner and an outer membrane separated by a layer of peptidoglycan (Fig. 1 ). The inner membrane is the site of biochemical reactions involved in respiration and oxidative phosphorylation, and the synthesis of structural membrane components. In contrast, the outer membrane forms a physical barrier between the inside of the bacterial cell and the external environment, and contains elements involved in the binding and transmembrane transportation of components required for bacterial biochemistry.
Fig. 1.
Schematic representation of the cell envelope of Gram-negative bacteria. The outer membrane (OM) is a lipid bilayer into which are inserted major outer membrane proteins (MOMPs), inducible proteins (IP), and transmembrane pore proteins in addition to several minor proteins. Certain bacterial species express membrane-associated proteins in the form of surface layers.