Characteristics of the outer membrane of selected oral Bacteroides species

1985 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 238-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. D. Williams ◽  
S. C. Holt

The outer membranes from selected oral Bacteroides species were isolated and characterized morphologically, chemically, and physically. Both sucrose density gradient centrifugation and sodium dodecyl sulfate – polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE) revealed outer membranes which varied slightly with the species, as well as showing complex polypeptide patterns after SDS–PAGE. The polypeptide distribution revealed a species-specific pattern; however, there was often a variation within a given species in many minor polypeptide bands, with heat-modifiable minor peptides occurring in nearly all species. Protein-associated carbohydrates occurred in several species. Outer membrane fragments (blebs) recovered by ultracentrifugation of the growth supernatants were either nearly identical to the outer membrane polypeptide patterns, or contained reduced amounts of specific polypeptides, again varying with the species. l25I-labelling of whole cells indicated possible surface exposure for several of the major polypeptides.

1985 ◽  
Vol 228 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Davies Jones ◽  
F A Hashim ◽  
Y Kajita ◽  
F M Creagh ◽  
P R Buckland ◽  
...  

Reduction of human thyroid membranes with dithiothreitol caused the release of a water-soluble glycoprotein which neutralized the thyrotropin (TSH) receptor-binding and thyroid-stimulating activities of Graves‘ serum. Analysis of the protein by gel filtration and sucrose density gradient centrifugation allowed estimates of 3.45 nm for the Stokes’ radius, 3.6 S for the s20,w and 47 000 +/- 5000 (mean +/- S.D.; n = 4) for the Mr. The material released by dithiothreitol treatment could be crosslinked to 125I-labelled TSH coupled to N-hydroxysuccinimidyl 4-azidobenzoate (125I-HSAB-TSH), suggesting that it contained a component of the TSH receptor. Furthermore, analysis of the crosslinked material by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis indicated that it contained the TSH receptor A subunit (Mr 50 000). Several factors suggested therefore that the glycoprotein released by dithiothreitol treatment of human thyroid membranes was the TSH receptor A subunit. In particular, (a) both preparations were hydrophilic and were released from membranes by reduction, (b) they had similar Mr values and (c) both preparations crosslinked to 125I-HSAB-TSH. Material similar to the TSH receptor A subunit was released from thyroid membranes by treatment with papain, probably as a result of cleavage of the receptor A subunit at a site close to the interchain disulphide bridge. A similar mechanism, involving thyroid proteinases, was probably involved in release of material with similar properties to the TSH receptor A subunit during freezing and thawing of human thyroid homogenates.


1981 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 245-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Tsukita ◽  
H Ishikawa ◽  
M Kurokawa

Astroglial filaments approximately 10 nm in diameter were isolated from degenerated mouse optic nerves by Triton X-100 and DNase I treatments followed by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. 2-4 wk after bilateral enucleation, optic nerves contained virtually a single population of 10-nm filaments (astroglial filaments), free from neurofilaments. In negative-staining and thin-section electron microscopy, the isolated filaments were seen as nonbranching linear structures with smooth contour, and were morphologically identical to those in situ. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed the isolated filaments to be composed of two major polypeptides with molecular weights of 45,000 and 55,000, present in an approximate molar ratio of 1:1. These findings, together with the results of one-dimensional peptide mapping and solubility study, indicate that the astroglial filaments in the mouse optic nerve are primarily composed of these two polypeptides.


1982 ◽  
Vol 28 (11) ◽  
pp. 1265-1272
Author(s):  
E. Pinina Norrod ◽  
Robert P. Williams

Phenotypic changes in the colonial morphology of four opacity variants of Neisseria gonorrhoeae strain F62 occurred upon growth in the presence of 14 mM pyruvate. Each of the naturally occurring opacity variants, a transparent, an opaque, and two deeply opaque, became more opaque; in addition, colonies of the opaque variants became rougher. Pyruvate did not appear to have a direct function in these colonial changes. Its effects were due to the ability of pyruvate to retard the oxidation of cysteine that was added to the medium in a defined supplement. Sodium dodecyl sulfate – polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE) of outer membranes showed that the opacity-associated proteins of the naturally occurring variants were not affected by growth in the presence of pyruvate; therefore, the induced opacity changes appear to have another basis. However, other proteins were affected. SDS–PAGE of the outer membranes, as well as of cell fractions composed predominantly of cytosol and of cytoplasmic membranes, revealed quantitative differences in the protein profiles after growth in the presence of pyruvate of each variant.


1981 ◽  
Vol 195 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
N S Beer ◽  
W T Griffiths

A procedure for the purification of the enzyme NADPH:protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase is described. This involves fractionation of sonicated oat etioplast membranes by discontinuous-sucrose-density-gradient centrifugation, which gives membranes in which the enzyme is present at a high specific activity. The enzyme is solubilized from the membranes with Triton X-100, followed by gel filtration of the extract; enzyme activity is eluted in fractions corresponding to a mol.wt of approx. 35000. Sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis of the enzyme-containing fractions from gel filtration shows two peptides, of mol.wts. approx. 35000 and 37000.


2001 ◽  
Vol 69 (7) ◽  
pp. 4373-4381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sherry A. Coleman ◽  
Michael F. Minnick

ABSTRACT The invasion-associated locus A and B genes (ialAB) ofBartonella bacilliformis were previously shown to confer an erythrocyte-invasive phenotype upon Escherichia coli, indirectly implicating their role in virulence. We report the first direct demonstration of a role for ialB as a virulence factor in B. bacilliformis. The presence of a secretory signal sequence and amino acid sequence similarity to two known outer membrane proteins involved in virulence suggested that IalB was an outer membrane protein. To develop an antiserum for protein localization, the ialB gene was cloned in frame into an expression vector with a six-histidine tag and under control of thelacZ promoter. The IalB fusion protein was purified by nickel affinity chromatography and used to raise polyclonal antibodies. IalB was initially localized to the bacterial membrane fraction. To further localize IalB, B. bacilliformis inner and outer membranes were fractionated by sucrose density gradient centrifugation and identified by appearance, buoyant density (ρ), and cytochromeb content. Inner and outer membrane proteins were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and IalB was positively identified by Western blot. Contrary to expectations, IalB was localized to the inner membrane of the pathogen. To directly demonstrate a role for IalB in erythrocyte parasitism, the B. bacilliformis ialB gene was disrupted by insertional mutagenesis. The resulting ialB mutant strain was complemented in trans with a replicative plasmid encoding the full-length ialB gene. PCR and high-stringency DNA hybridization confirmed mutagenesis and transcomplementation events. Abrogation and restoration of ialB expression was verified by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting. In vitro virulence assays showed that mutagenesis of ialB decreased bacterial association and invasion of human erythrocytes by 47 to 53% relative to controls. Transcomplementation of ialB restored erythrocyte association and invasion rates to levels observed in the parental strain. These data provide direct evidence for IalB's role in erythrocyte parasitism and represent the first demonstration of molecular Koch's postulates for a Bartonella species.


Author(s):  
Frederico Guilherme Coutinho Abath ◽  
Luís Carlos de Sousa Ferreira

In the present study three techniques for obtaining outer membrane enriched fractions from Yersinia pestis were evaluated. The techniques analysed were: differential solubilization of the cytoplasmic membrane with Sarkosyl or Triton X-100, and centrifugation in sucrose density gradients. The sodium dodecyl-sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of outer membrane isolated by the different methods resulted in similar protein patterns. The measurement of NADH-dehydrogenase and succinate dehydrogenase (inner membrane enzymes) indicated that the outer membrane preparations obtained by the three methods were pure enough for analytical studies. In addition, preliminary evidences on the potential use of outer membrane proteins for the identification of geographic variants of Y. pestis wild isolates are presented.


1975 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 577-586 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Noseworthy ◽  
G H Smith ◽  
S R Himmelhoch ◽  
W H Evans

The postnuclear supernatant fraction of sucrose homogenates of guinea pig polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) was subjected to differential centrifugation to obtain a total particulate fraction, a particle-free supernatant fraction, highly enriched fractions of primary and secondary granules, and a membrane-rich fraction. The various fractions were solubilized in buffer containing sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and analyzed for protein and glycoproteincomponents by SDS -polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The major glycoprotein components of the postnuclear supernatant fraction were found mainly associated with the enriched fraction of secondary granules and, to a lesser extent, with the membrane-rich fraction. No major glycoprotein components were visible in the polypeptide electrophoretic patterns of the primary granule fraction or of the particle-free supernate. Attempts at separation of guinea pig granules by zonal sucrose density gradient centrifugation were only partially successful. Data supporting a species difference in this regard between rabbit and guinea pig PMNL granules are presented.


Parasitology ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 130 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. L. S. SANTOS ◽  
C. M. ABREU ◽  
C. S. ALVIANO ◽  
R. M. A. SOARES

The expression of proteolytic activities in the Trypanosomatidae family was explored as a potential marker to discriminate between the morphologically indistinguishable flagellates isolated from insects and plants. We have comparatively analysed the proteolytic profiles of 19 monoxenous trypanosomatids (Herpetomonas anglusteri,H. samuelpessoai,H. mariadeanei,H. roitmani,H. muscarum ingenoplastis,H. muscarum muscarum,H. megaseliae,H. dendoderi,Herpetomoassp.,Crithidia oncopelti,C. deanei,C. acanthocephali,C. harmosa,C. fasciculata,C. guilhermei,C. luciliae,Blastocrithidia culicis,Leptomonas samueliandLept. seymouri) and 4 heteroxenous flagellates (Phytomonas serpens,P. mcgheei,Trypanosoma cruziandLeishmania amazonensis) byin situdetection of enzyme activities on sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE ) containing co-polymerized gelatine as substrate, in association with specific proteinase inhibitors. All 23 trypanosomatids expressed at least 1 acidic proteolytic enzyme. In addition, a characteristic and specific pattern of cell-associated metallo and/or cysteine proteinases was observed, except for the similar profiles detected in 2Herpetomonas(H. anglusteriandH. samuelpessoai) and 3Crithidia(C. fasciculata,C. guilhermeiandC. luciliae) species. However, these flagellates released distinct secretory proteinase profiles into the extracellular medium. These findings strongly suggest that the association of cellular and secretory proteinase pattern could represent a useful marker to help trypanosomatid identification.


1980 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 642-648
Author(s):  
J. T. Poolman ◽  
S. De Marie ◽  
H. C. Zanen

Analysis of major outer membrane protein (MOMP) profiles of various meningococci by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) revealed the presence of 0 to 2 low-molecular-weight, heat-modifiable MOMPs (molecular weight, 25,000 to 32,000) and 1 to 3 high-molecular-weight MOMPs (molecular weight, 32,000 to 46,000). Heat modifiability was investigated by comparing MOMP profiles after heating in SDS solutions at 100°C for 5 min or at 40°C for 1 h. Low-molecular-weight MOMPs shifted to higher apparent molecular weights after being heated at 100°C. Heat modifiability of high-molecular-weight MOMPs varied among strains; whenever modified these proteins shifted to lower apparent molecular weights after complete denaturation. Variability of low-molecular-weight, heat-modifiable MOMPs was demonstrated when MOMP profiles were compared of (i) isolates from index cases and associated cases and carriers among contacts, (ii) different isolates from the same individual, and (iii) isolates from a small epidemic caused by serogroup W-135. In some cases high-molecular-weight MOMPs revealed quantitative differences among related strains. The observed variability and quantitative differences indicate that MOMP serotyping and typing on the basis of SDS-PAGE profiles (PAGE typing) need careful reevaluation.


1976 ◽  
Vol 154 (2) ◽  
pp. 491-499 ◽  
Author(s):  
L Bowden ◽  
J. M Lord

Microsomal fractions, glyoxysomes and mitochondria were isolated from homogenates of germinating castor-bean (Ricinus communis) endosperm by sucrose-density-gradient centrifugation. Washed membrane preparations from these cellular fractions were examined by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. At corresponding developmental stages the endoplasmic-reticulum and glyoxysomal membranes were strikingly similar in polypeptide composition, at least 16 polypeptides being present in membranes isolated from 3-day-old tissue. Supplying [35S]methionine to intact endosperm tissue resulted in the labelling of all membrane polypeptides, the specific radioactivity in the endoplasmic reticulum being greater than for equivalent polypeptides of the glyoxysomal membrane. Washing these membranes with sodium deoxycholate solution extensively solubilized protein components, with the exception of a predominant polypeptide of mol.wt. 55000. Mitochondrial membrane preparations differed from those of the endoplasmic reticulum and glyoxysomes in polypeptide molecular-weight distribution and the [35S]methionine-labelling pattern. The similarity in polypeptide composition between endoplasmic-reticulum and glyoxysomal membranes is discussed in relation to glyoxysome biogenesis.


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