Identification of OmpR: a positive regulatory protein controlling expression of the major outer membrane matrix porin proteins of Escherichia coli K-12.

We report here on the cloning of a gene located within the ompB locus of E. coli K-12. This gene, designated ompR, resides on a 10.9-kilobase EcoRI fragment that we cloned, using a lambda vector and in vitro packaging techniques. By subcloning portions of this fragment into the high-copy-number plasmid pBR322, we have isolated the ompR gene on a 1.4-kilobase EcoRI-AvaI fragment. This fragment has been characterized physically and will facilitate a more detailed study of the role and mechanism of porin regulation by the ompB locus.