A cytoplasmic protein, NfrC, is required for bacteriophage N4 adsorption

At least four genes are required for irreversible adsorption of bacteriophage N4. nfrA and nfrB have been characterized previously and encode an outer membrane protein and inner membrane protein, respectively. The nfrC gene product is characterized in detail in this study. We have mapped the nfrD locus to min 52 on the Escherichia coli linkage map. Maxicell analysis of nfrC and a null allele (nfrC2) cloned into a high-copy-number plasmid shows its gene product to be 42 kDa in size. We determined the nfrC nucleotide sequence which predicts a gene product of 42 kDa. Western blots (immunoblots) of Escherichia coli proteins after cellular fractionation show NfrC to be a cytoplasmic protein which is required for irreversible bacteriophage N4 adsorption, an event occurring at the cell surface.