Escherichia coli mutants altered in murein lipoprotein

Mutants with alterations in the structure, biosynthesis, or assembly of murein lipoprotein were selected by a procedure based on radiation suicide of wild-type organisms by [3H]arginine under conditions where the radioactive arginine was preferentially incorporated into lipoprotein. Further screening for the potential mutants among the survivors of [3H]arginine suicide was carried out by using a sensitive immunodiffusion test, followed by radioactive double-labeling experiments. Three mutants were obtained and partially characterized.