The nik operon of Escherichia coli encodes a periplasmic binding-protein-dependent transport system specific for nickel. In this report, we describe the overproduction of the periplasmic nickel-binding protein NikA by cloning the nikA gene into an overexpression vector, pRE1. NikA was purified free of nickel to near homogeneity from the periplasm by hydrophobic and ion-exchange chromatography. N-terminal amino acid sequencing confirmed that the leader peptide of NikA had been removed. The nickel-binding properties of the protein has been studied by monitoring the quenching of intrinsic protein fluorescence. NikA binds one atom of nickel/molecule of protein with a dissociation constant (Kd) of less than 0.1 microM. Other metals (cobalt, copper, iron) are bound at least 10-fold less tightly. The high specificity for Ni2+ is also demonstrated by high-performance immobilized-metal-ion affinity chromatography. Biosynthesis of NikA occurred only under anaerobic conditions and was dependent on the general anaerobic regulator FNR. It was repressed by the presence of 250 microM Ni2+ in the growth medium and was not affected by either 30 mM formate or 100 mM nitrate. Anaerobically grown wild-type strain MC4100 contains about 23,000 molecules of NikA/cell. In addition to the effect on nickel transport, nikA mutation affects also the nickel sensing in Tar-dependent repellent chemotaxis.