Copper, zinc superoxide dismutase in Escherichia coli: periplasmic localization

Cu,ZnSOD purified from Escherichia coli has been used to raise antibodies in rabbits. The resultant antiserum was found to recognize a single band on Western blots of SDS-polyacrylamide gel electropherograms, and that single band coincided with the position of the Cu,ZnSOD. Ultrathin sections of fixed E. coli were treated with the antibody followed by protein A bearing 10-nm gold particles. Electron microscopy revealed that Cu,ZnSOD was largely localized in the periplasm in polar bays.