Figure 1

Export of LPS to the cell surface. The Lpt molecular machine (LptA-G) transports LPS across the periplasm and inserts it into the outer membrane (OM) at the expense of ATP hydrolysis (left). The number [n] of LptA molecules required to cross the 210-Å-wide periplasm³⁰ is not determined experimentally. The LptDE complex finally inserts the LPS into the OM. On the right the chemical structure of E. coli O157:H7 LPS used in this study^{51, 52}.