The binding of C9 at 0 and 37 degrees C to viable Escherichia coli K-12 cells carrying C5b-8 complexes was quantified. At low temperature, limited average binding of only 1 to 1.4 molecules of C9 per C8 molecule occurred, whereas 6 to 8 C9 molecules were bound per C8 molecule at 37 degrees C. Despite incorporation of C9 into C5b-9 complexes at 0 degrees C, these terminal complexes caused no loss of bacterial viability even when present in very large numbers (1,000 to 1,500 per CFU) on the bacterial cells. In contrast, generation of 50 to 100 C5b-9 complexes carrying multiple C9 molecules per CFU caused loss of viability. The failure of C5b-81C91 complexes to generate transmural pores was confirmed by measurements of o-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactoside influx into the cells. Whereas treatment of C5b-8-laden cells with C9 at 32 degrees C caused virtually instantaneous influx of the marker, almost no influx was registered in cells receiving C9 at 0 degrees C. When cells carrying C5b-7 were brought into the stationary phase and given C8 and C9 at 32 degrees C, a C9-dependent disruption of the outer membrane permeability barrier immediately occurred as demonstrated by cleavage of a chromogenic substrate by periplasmic beta-lactamase. In sharp contrast, o-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactoside influx was markedly retarded over a prolonged period, with abrupt permeability increases of the inner membrane toward this molecule being noted just before bacterial cell division occurred. We conclude that killing of E. coli requires binding of C5b-9 complexes containing C9 oligomers to the outer membrane and suggest that formation of pores in the inner membrane occurs when these complexes are "hit" by transiently forming zones of bioadhesion. Formation of the latter may be a dynamic process that is accentuated during cell division and quiescent during the stationary phase.