In vivo inhibition of TonB-dependent processes by a TonB box consensus pentapeptide.

The TonB box, a conserved pentapeptide sequence found in TonB-dependent colicins and receptors, is thought to interact physically with the TonB protein to facilitate TonB-dependent processes. Strains of Escherichia coli were treated in vivo with the synthetic TonB box pentapeptide Glu-Thr-Val-Ile-Val. The pentapeptide inhibited several TonB-dependent processes, including cell growth in low-iron medium, phi 80 infection, and killing by colicins B and Ia. Two unrelated control pentapeptides had no effect on TonB-dependent processes.