[Procaine, a local anesthetic, interacting with the cell membrane and inhibiting the processing of exported protein precursors in Escherichia coli].

In E. coli cells grown in the presence of procaine (0.55% w/v), precursor forms of alkaline phosphatase and of glutamine binding protein accumulate besides mature forms synthesized prior to procaine addition. An experimental technique, of general application, for isolation and purification of mature and precursor forms obtained under these conditions, is described.