Escherichia co/i heat-shock proteins IbpA/B are involved in resistance to oxidative stress induced by copper.

The article investigates the role of lbpA/B proteins in protection of E. coli against oxidate stress induced by copper ions. It also demonstrates that the lbpA/B participate in the defense against copper-induced stress under aerobic conditions. It is said that in the presence of oxygen, ΔibpA/B cells exhibit increased sensitivity to copper ions and accumulate elevated amounts of oxidized proteins, while under oxygen depletion, the ΔibpA/B mutation has no effect on copper tolerance. It is shown in the article that AdhE is protected by lbpA/B against copper-mediated inactivation both in vivo and in vitro.