Immunochemical identification of a tRNA-independent cytokinin-like compound in Salmonella typhimurium.

Chemical and immunological characterization of Salmonella typhimurium cell extracts indicates that this organism produces a molecule which closely resembles the plant growth regulator, cytokinin. Alcohol-soluble cationic ultraviolet-absorbing material was fractionated by reverse-phase HPLC using gradient conditions optimized previously for modified nucleoside separation. A single hydrophobic compound was identified in the cytokinin region of the gradient, and limited quantities of the compound were prepared by HPLC fractionation of crude extracts. The compound demonstrated significant activity in a radioimmunoassay for cytokinins which detects N6-isopentenylated adenine derivatives. Boronate affinity chromatography indicated the compound is likely to be ribosylated and therefore a nucleoside. These and other tests indicate the compound has the most notable structural characteristics of a cytokinin. Spectral analysis and chromatographic comparison with cytokinin standards indicate the compound also has some unique structural features. Presence of the compound in extracts of an S. typhimurium mutant blocked for synthesis of tRNA-derived cytokinins excluded tRNA as a source for the compound and implicates existence of a tRNA-independent pathway for cytokinin biosynthesis in this bacterial species.

Protein neighborhoods in the outer membrane of Salmonella typhimurium.

The organization of proteins in the outer membrane of Salmonella typhimurium was analyzed by cross-linking with cleavable reagents and symmetrical two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The major outer membrane proteins could be cross-linked to form multimeric complexes. The pore-forming 44 000, 36 000 and 34 000 dalton proteins were cross-linked to form dimers and trimers. Lipoprotein was cross-linked to 33 000 and 17 500 dalton proteins. In addition the 33 000, 24 000, 17 500 dalton proteins and the free form of lipoprotein were cross-linked to the peptidoglycan layer of the cell wall. The cross-linked complexes found were similar to those of analogous proteins in the outer membrane of Escherichia coli, thus suggesting a similar organization of outer membrane proteins in these species.

Caulobacter crescentus flagellar filament has a right-handed helical form.

Caulobacter crescentus flagellar filaments were examined for their shape and handedness. Contour length, wavelength and height of the helical filaments were 1.34 +/- 0.14 micron, 1.08 +/- 0.05 micron and 0.27 +/- 0.04 micron, respectively. Together with the value of the filament diameter, 14 +/- 1.5 nm, the parameters of the curvature (alpha) and twist (phi) were calculated as 3.9(%) for alpha and 0.026 (rad) for phi, which are similar to those of the curly I filament of Salmonella typhimurium. Dark-field light microscopic analysis revealed that the C. crescentus wild-type filament possesses a right-handed helical form. Given the result that C. crescentus cells normally swim forward, in the opposite direction to a polar flagellum, it is likely that C. crescentus swims by rotation of a right-handed curly shaped flagellum in a clockwise sense, whereas S. typhimurium and Escherichia coli swim by rotation of left-handed normal type flagella in a counterclockwise sense.

Fluorine-19 nuclear magnetic resonance study of 5-fluorotryptophan-labeled histidine-binding protein J of Salmonella typhimurium.

Fluorine-19 nuclear magnetic resonance has been used to investigate the histidine-binding protein J from Salmonella typhimurium. The protein has been labeled with fluorine-19 by growing the bacterial cells of a tryptophan auxotroph in the presence of 5-fluorotryptophan. Incorporation of up to 70% was achieved. The binding of L-histidine to the 19F-labeled protein is not affected by the isotopic labeling. The protein contains one tryptophan residue, giving rise to a single 19F resonance. Upon binding L-histidine to 19F-labeled histidine-binding protein J, the observed 19F resonance is shifted downfield by about 0.6 parts per million, indicating a conformational change of the protein molecule and a more hydrophobic environment for the 19F nucleus. Additional fluorescence experiments confirm that the tryptophan residue is located inside the hydrophobic core of the protein. 19F spin-lattice relaxation times of the 19F-labeled protein as a function of temperature show no difference between the free protein and the protein-histidine complex. However, the linewidth for the free protein is much larger than that of the protein-substrate complex. This can be explained by slow fluctuations between different conformations of the free protein molecule having slightly different 19F chemical shifts. Both with and without the substrate, the tryptophan residue is immobile inside the protein molecule as shown by the total disappearance of the 19F signal upon broadband irradiation at the 1H frequency. Also, the 19F spin-lattice relaxation times indicate that the protein is a rather rigid structure, in which rapid motions of the tryptophan residue on the time scale of 10(-8) second are not prominent.

Stoichiometric analysis of the flagellar hook-(basal-body) complex of Salmonella typhimurium.

The stoichiometries of components within the flagellar hook-(basal-body) complex of Salmonella typhimurium have been determined. The hook protein (FlgE), the most abundant protein in the complex, is present at approximately 130 subunits. Hook-associated protein 1 (FlgK) is present at approximately 12 subunits. The distal rod protein (FlgG) is present at approximately 26 subunits, while the proximal rod proteins (FlgB, FlgC and FlgF) are present at only approximately six subunits each. The stoichiometries of the proximal rod proteins and hook-associated protein 1 are, within experimental error, consistent with values of 5 or 6, and 11, respectively. Such values would correspond to either one or two turns of a helical structure with a basic helix of approximately 5.5 subunits per turn, which is the geometry of both the hook and the filament and, one supposes, the rod and hook-associated proteins. These stoichiometries may derive from rules for the heterologous interactions that occur when a helical structure consists of successive segments constructed from different proteins; the stoichiometries within the hook and the distal portion of the rod must, however, be set by different mechanisms. The stoichiometries for the ring proteins are approximately 26 subunits each for the M-ring protein (FliF), the P-ring protein (FlgI), and the L-ring protein (FlgH); the protein responsible for the S-ring feature is not known. The rings presumably have rotational rather than helical symmetry, in which case the stoichiometries would be directly constrained by the intersubunit bonding angle. The ring stoichiometries are discussed in light of other information concerning flagellar structure and function.

Interactions between Salmonella typhimurium lipopolysaccharide and the antimicrobial peptide, magainin 2 amide.

Effects of magainin 2 amide on the phase behavior of Salmonella typhimurium lipopolysaccharide were characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy. This antimicrobial cationic peptide disorders the lipopolysaccharide at molecular ratios of lipopolysaccharide to magainin greater than 4, and can induce a temperature-dependent structural reorientation. The nature of the five phosphate groups of lipopolysaccharide was determined by 31P NMR spectroscopy. At pH 7.4, the net charge on the phosphates is -7. Lipopolysaccharide undoubtedly plays an important role in modulating the interactions of magainin with the gram-negative cell envelope and may act as a molecular sponge to protect the plasma membrane.

Evidence of a role for permeability factors in the pathogenesis of salmonellosis.

Two clinical isolates of Salmonella typhimurium were shown to produce two skin permeability factors. One factor was heat stable and rapid in onset while the other was heat labile and elicited maximal induration by 18 to 24 hr. The rapid, erythematous permeability factor (PF) response could not be prevented by antisera to cholera toxin or Salmonella antisomatic serum, but it could be simulated by high concentrations of lipopolysaccharide from S. typhimurium. The appearance of the delayed PF reaction was indistinguishable from that of purified cholera toxin. Histological comparisons of rabbit skin injected with Salmonella-delayed PF and cholera toxin revealed that both toxins resulted in gross edema and infiltration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes after 18 hr. The Salmonella-delayed PF was shown to be resistant to a variety of enzymes, sensitive to extremes in pH, and had an isoelectric point of pH 4.8. Unlike Salmonella lipopolysaccharide skin activity, the Salmonella-delayed PF was destroyed at 100 C and was neutralized by monospecific cholera antitoxin. The Salmonella-delayed PF, which shares antigenic determinants with cholera toxin, appears to be elaborated by living S. typhimurium cells in the rabbit ligated intestine, since rabbits immunized with procholeragenoid were protected against fluid loss from live cell challenge. Finally, production of the rapid PF is a stable genetic trait, while delayed PF production is apparently an unstable characteristic among the salmonellae.

Detection and discrimination of individual viruses by flow cytometry.

A new flow cytometer with a very small observation volume has been developed to detect individual viruses with good resolution, and has been used to discriminate between two types of viral particles based on differences in their light scattering. Measurements of light scattering and fluorescence made with such an instrument can provide a basis for quantitative analysis and sorting of viruses and other particles in the micron and submicron size range.

Polyclonal activation of human peripheral blood lymphocytes by bacterial porins and defined porin fragments.

Bacterial porins were isolated from Escherichia coli B and Salmonella typhimurium S 1135. The proteins were cleaved either by cyanogen bromide treatment or by enzymatic digestion into a variety of small fragments, and the compounds were characterized by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Both the porins and the porin fragments constituted potent mitogens for human peripheral blood lymphocytes, comparable to the human B-lymphocyte activator pokeweed mitogen. In the cultures, B-lymphocytes were stimulated into immunoglobulin production, as measured by ELISA. In all experiments, the activity of the mitogens extracted from S. typhimurium was superior to that of the compound isolated from E. coli B. The well-defined porins constitute valuable tools for investigating the molecular mechanism of human lymphocyte activation.

Purification and properties of two binding proteins for branched-chain amino acids in Salmonella typhimurium.

Two leucine-binding proteins isolated from osmotic shock fluid of Salmonella typhimurium LT2 were purified by DEAE-cellulose and DEAE-Sephadex A-50 chromatography, and subsequent isoelectric focusing. These purified binding proteins could be crystallized by adding 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol. One of the binding proteins, designated as LIVT-binding protein, binds L-leucine, L-isoleucine, L-valine, and L-threonine, while the other, L-binding protein, binds only L-leucine. The level of LIVT-binding protein in the shock fluid was about three-fold higher than that of L-binding protein. The molecular weight of the LIVT-binding protein was estimated to be 35,000 by gel filtration, and 39,000 by gel electrophoresis. The isoelectric point was pH 4.94. The dissociation constants of this protein for leucine, isoleucine, and valine were 0.43, 0.15, and 0.89 microM, respectively. For the L-binding protein, molecular weights of 34,000 (gel filtration), and 38,000 (gel electrophoresis) were obtained. The isoelectric point was pH 4.74. The dissociation constant of this protein for leucine was 0.54 microM. The LIVT-binding protein was more heat-stable than the L-binding protein. These two binding proteins showed an antigenic similarity, they could cross-react with each other's antiserum. This similarity was also found between the binding proteins of Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli K-12. Both LIVT- and L-binding proteins in a regulatory mutant, KA2313, were found to be about three-fold the levels in the wild-type strain.

Structural requirements of endotoxic glycolipid for antitumor and toxic activity.

Endotoxic glycolipids extracted from the polysaccharide heptose-less Re mutant of Salmonella typhimurium were hydrolyzed with alkaline and acid reagents. Treatment with hydroxylamine caused the liberation of all O-ester linked fatty acids and resulted in abrogation of the toxicity (lethality to chick embryos) and ability to regress tumors (line-10 tumors in strain 2 guinea pigs). Treatment with dilute sodium hydroxide caused partial removal of O-ester linked fatty acids without loss of these activities. Toxicity and tumor-regressive potency were retained after removal of 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonate (KDO) by exposing the glycolipids to sodium acetate solution at pH 4.5. The majority of the glycolipids of the endotoxic extracts were rendered non-toxic but retained antitumor activity when hydrolyzed with boiling 0.1 N hydrochloric acid, which split KDO and glycosidic phosphate from the glycolipid molecules. Non-toxic glycolipid fractions possessing antitumor activity were separated from the acid hydrolysate by means of preparative thin layer chromatography. It was concluded that glycosidic bound phosphate and at least a portion of the fatty acids of the lipid A moiety are essential for toxicity, but that this phosphate is not an essential structural feature for tumor-regression activity.

Essential regions of the lipopolysaccharide of Pseudomonas aeruginosa responsible for pyrogenicity and activation of the proclotting enzyme of horseshoe crabs. Comparison with antitumor, interferon-inducing and adjuvant activities.

Regions of lipopolysaccharide derived from Pseudomonas aeruginosa essential for pyrogenicity and activation of the proclotting enzyme of the horseshoe crab were examined. Free lipid A with intact fatty acids showed strong pyrogenicity but showed little activation of the proclotting enzyme. Chemical modification of the polysaccharide portion and deacylation of the lipopolysaccharide diminished activation of the proclotting enzyme. The native-protein portion attached to the lipopolysaccharide also inhibited the activation of proclotting enzyme by lipopolysaccharide, but not pyrogenicity. These results indicate that free lipid A is sufficient for pyrogenicity, whereas the complete lipopolysaccharide is the strongest activator of the proclotting enzyme. The lipopolysaccharide of P. aeruginosa, which showed the strongest activation of proclotting enzyme, showed the weakest pyrogenicity of all the lipopolysaccharides tested here. All these results demonstrate that there is not correlation between pyrogenicity and proclotting enzyme activation induced by lipopolysaccharides.

Lipid a component of Salmonella typhimurium carrying the derepressed Col Ib plasmids.

The structure of the lipid A from S. typhimurium harboring the derepressed plasmids Col Ib is very similar: i, 1,4'-bis-phosphorylated-beta-1',6-linked glucosamine disaccharide forms a backbone of the lipid; ii, lipid preparations contain four residues of 3-hydroxytetradecanoic acid at positions C3, C3' and the amide linked at C2, C2' and two free hydroxyl groups at positions C4 and C6'. Differences concern: i, substitution of phosphoryl groups by 4-amino-4-deoxy-L-arabinopyranose and phosphorylethanolamine in S. typhimurium with Col Ib plasmids; ii, the degree of acylation of hydroxyl groups of 3-hydroxytetradecanoic acid by myristic, lauric and palmatic acids; iii, presence of tridecanoic acid bound to hydroxyl of 3-hydroxy-tetradecanate residue in S. typhimurium with Col Ibdrd2 plasmid. Lipopolysaccharides from the plasmid mutant strains express several times higher lethal toxicity in chick embryos compared to lipopolysaccharides from the strain with the wild type Col Ib.

A high-resolution 1H-NMR investigation of the histidine-binding protein J of Salmonella typhimurium. Substrate-induced conformational changes.

High-resolution 1H-NMR spectroscopy at 600 MHz has been used to investigate the conformational transitions of the histidine-binding protein J of Salmonella typhimurium in solution as a function of pH and of L-histidine concentration. The dissociation constant for the binding of L-histidine to histidine-binding protein J increases from 6.0 X 10(-8) to 5.1 X 10(-7) M in going from pH 5.57 to 8.00. The conformation of this protein as observed by 1H-NMR also changes over this range of pH. However, when L-histidine is bound, the changes in conformation with pH are much smaller. Also, the pK for the single histidyl residue in histidine-binding protein J changes from 6.75 in the absence of L-histidine to 6.52 when L-histidine is bound. Earlier work in this laboratory resulted in the identification of several proton resonances believed to be at or near the L-histidine-binding site. Two of these resonances have been assigned to a tyrosine and the single histidyl residue in the histidine-binding protein J molecule.

Studies of the fatty acid composition and membrane microviscosity in Salmonella typhimurium TA98.

When the mutagen tester bacterial strain Salmonella typhimurium TA 98 was grown at different temperatures, we found that the unsaturated fatty acid composition increased at the lower growth temperatures. Membrane microviscosity, as assessed with spin-probe fatty acids using electron spin resonance, decreased as the unsaturated fatty acid content increased. These findings are of importance in understanding our recent observation that the mutagenic response of these bacteria was increased when they were grown at 27 degrees C vs. 37 degrees C, and indicate that membrane properties may play an important role in the sequence of events leading to mutagenesis.

Isolation of an azide mutagenic metabolite in Salmonella typhimurium.

A scheme that employs a cation-exchange column and high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) is devised to isolate and process large quantities of azide metabolite produced by S. typhimurium TA1530 strain. The mutagenic metabolite adheres strongly to the cation-exchange column, thus providing a convenient way to separate the metabolite from unreacted azide (N3-). The metabolite is very polar and only sparingly soluble in most organic solvents. Recrystallization in a methanol-carbon tetrachloride solvent system gave rise to microcrystalline material that decomposes with charring and gas evolution at 173-176 degrees C. The infrared spectrum indicates the presence of a covalently bound azide moiety.

Lipopolysaccharide-stimulated PGE2 release from human monocytes. Comparison of lipopolysaccharides prepared from suspected periodontal pathogens.

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) prepared from the suspected periodontal pathogens Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (A. a.), Bacteroides gingivalis, B. intermedius and Wolinella recta were compared to Salmonella typhimurium LPS for their capacity to stimulate prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) release from human monocytes. Counterflow isolated monocytes were cultured with control medium or media containing 10 micrograms/ml LPS. Media were then exchanged every 24 hours for a total of 72 hours. Salmonella and Wolinella LPS preparations demonstrated seven-fold greater PGE2 release than B. gingivalis and two-fold greater than A. a. and B. intermedius. PGE2 release was found to decrease over time with all LPS preparations except Wolinella. The potency of the LPS preparations is tentatively ranked as follows: Wolinella greater than or equal to Salmonella greater than A. a. greater than B. intermedius greater than or equal to B. gingivalis. These findings demonstrate that LPS preparations from suspected periodontal pathogens are capable of stimulating PGE2 release from human monocytes. The high potency and prolonged stimulation of PGE2 release with Wolinella LPS suggests unusual toxic properties that may exert a greater influence in the pathogenesis of destructive periodontal diseases.

A convenient synthesis of 4-amino-4-deoxy-L-arabinose and its reduction product, 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-L-arabinitol.

Methyl beta-D-xylopyranoside in a mixture of N,N-dimethylformamide and 2-methoxypropene containing a little hydrogen chloride gave preponderantly the 2,3-O-isopropylidene derivative, which was readily converted into its 4-trifluoromethanesulfonate. The facile displacement of the triflate group gave a 4-azido-4-deoxy-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside derivative, and this, on mild acid treatment, was hydrolyzed to the 2,3-diol, or under more vigorous conditions to 4-azido-4-deoxy-L-arabinose. Methyl 2,3-di-O-acetyl-4-azido-4-deoxy-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside, from the diol, appears (1H-n.m.r. data) to exist as an equilibrating mixture of the 4C1 and 1C4 conformers in chloroform solution. The reduction of the azido sugar by hydrogen over Pd/C in .6M HCl yielded 4-amino-4-deoxy-L-arabinopyranose as its hydrochloride; in 0.1M HCl, further reactions occurred to give 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-L-arabinitol as the final product. The aminodeoxypentose from lipid A precursor IIA, isolated from a Salmonella mutant by Raetz et al. in 1985, was shown to be identical with the synthetic aminoarabinose by t.l.c., 1H-n.m.r. spectroscopy, and g.l.c. of the acetylated reduction products.

Purification and biological characterizationof endotoxin fractions from Pasteruella haemolytica.

A sequential extraction procedure was used to provide 3 endotoxin fractions from Pasteurella haemolytica with distinct biological and solubility properties. After acetone dessication, extraction with phenol, chloroform, and petroleum ether (2:5:8) provided a fraction designated rough lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Subsequent extraction of the cells with 45% phenol at 68 C yielded a fraction designated smooth LPS, which was further divided into smooth precipitate and smooth supernatant, based on sedimentation at 105,000 x g for 4 hours. Yields of the 3 fractions were 1.5%, 3%, and 5.5% of the dry weight of the cells. The polysaccharide moieties of the rough LPS amd smooth precipitate fractions were obtained by partial acid hydrolysis followed by chloroform extraction. Biological activities of all 5 fractions were compared with activities of standard LPS fractions from Serratia marcescens and Salmonella typhimurium. Results of chicken embryo lethality, the local Shwartzman's phenomenon, nonspecific resistance enhancement ot challenge exposure by S typhimurium pyrogenicity, and the Limulus amebocyte lysate assay were reported.

[Bacteriophage P22 DNA structure in situ]. / Issledovanie struktury DNK in situ Bakteriofaga.

The structure of phage P22 DNA in situ was investigated by optical methods and by chemical modification with sodium bisulfite. On disruption of the phage particles by heating at 45 degrees a drop in absorbance at the 250 nm to 290 nm region was observed. At 260 nm this hypochromism was about 12%. CD spectra of intraphage DNA differed from that of free P22 DNA in the intensity as well as in the position of the positive band (lambda max 280 nm, delta epsilon max=1.3). In the intraphage DNA 21 per cent of cytosines reacted with sodium bisulfite. Cytosyl-amino acid products were found in the HClO4 and HCl hydrolysates of the modified phage. The main amino acid component of the product was identified as lysine. It was shown by means of gradient centrifugation and electron microscopy that the cytosyl-amino acid products result in the crosslinking of DNA to protein in the phage particles.