An unusual linkage between polysaccharides and some major proteins from the outer membrane of Escherichia coli.

A small population of OmpA, a major protein from the outer membrane of Escherichia coli, was found covalently associated with either lipopolysaccharide or O-antigen polysaccharide. Radioactive oligosaccharide was elicited linked to OmpA after treatment of the membranes with periodate that hydrolyzed large sugars. Association of saccharides to OmpA could be enhanced by treatment of the outer membrane with NaBH4.