Differential proteome analysis and mass spectrometric characterization of germ line development-related proteins of Caenorhabditis elegans

Proteome maps and differences of protein patterns of the synchronized larval stage L4 of the temperature-sensitive Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) glp-1 mutant (e2144ts) were investigated after cultivation at 15 degrees C (developing a normal phenotype) or 25 degrees C (developing a mutated phenotype) by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)-mass spectrometry. From the 183 identified protein spots six proteins were found differently expressed. The Vit-6 vitellogenin (CE28594), the hypothetical 17.2 protein (CE25224), the hypothetical 17.4 protein (CE16999), and the heat shock protein 16 kDa (CE14249) were more abundant when growing worm cultures at 25 degrees C. By contrast, the nucleoside diphosphate kinase (CE09650) was found increased at 15 degrees C. Most notably, the eukariotic initiation factor 5A-1 (CE00503), highly abundant at 15 degrees C, was not present in cultures grown at 25 degrees C. Its absence at 25 degrees C can not be attributed to lack of the enzymatic machinery that is necessary for hypusinylation. Instead, a direct downstream effect of the lack of functionality of GLP-1 may cause the expression of this protein. The yolk proteins 115 kDa and 88 kDa were attributed by mass spectrometric protein structure analysis as C-terminal and N-terminal fragments of the Vit-6 vitellogin protein (CE28594), respectively. The cleavage site between both derivatives was located between R764 and A768. A conflict in the database sequences at amino acid positions 1622 and 1623 of vitellogenin-6 was solved by mass spectrometric sequence analysis. The combination of 2-DE with mass spectrometry enabled the identification of mutation-associated differences on somatic gonadal cell and germ line cell development-associated proteins.     

Identification of proteins induced by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon in Mycobacterium vanbaalenii PYR-1 using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and de novo sequencing methods

Protein profiles of Mycobacterium vanbaalenii PYR-1 grown in the presence of high-molecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (HMW PAHs) were examined by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE). Cultures of M. vanbaalenii PYR-1 were incubated with pyrene, pyrene-4,5-quinone (PQ), phenanthrene, anthracene, and fluoranthene. Soluble cellular protein fractions were analyzed and compared, using immobilized pH gradient (IPG) strips. More than 1000 gel-separated proteins were detected using a 2-DE analysis program within the window of isoelectric point (pI) 4-7 and a molecular mass range of 10-100 kDa. We observed variations in the protein composition showing the upregulation of multiple proteins for the five PAH treatments compared with the uninduced control sample. By N-terminal sequencing or mass spectrometry, we further analyzed the proteins separated by 2-DE. Due to the lack of genome sequence information for this species, protein identification provided an analytical challenge. Several PAH-induced proteins were identified including a catalase-peroxidase, a putative monooxygenase, a dioxygenase small subunit, a small subunit of naphthalene-inducible dioxygenase, and aldehyde dehydrogenase. We also identified proteins related to carbohydrate metabolism (enolase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, indole-3-glycerol phosphate synthase, and fumarase), DNA translation (probable elongation factor Tsf), heat shock proteins, and energy production (ATP synthase). Many proteins from M. vanbaalenii PYR-1 showed similarity with protein sequences from M. tuberculosis and M. leprae. Some proteins were detected uniquely upon exposure to a specific PAH whereas others were common to more than one PAH, which indicates that induction triggers not only specific responses but a common response in this strain.     

Low molecular mass protein patterns in mycobacterial culture filtrates and purified protein derivatives

Mycobacterial polypeptides from 2 kDa to 14 kDa may be involved in host response to infection and be useful for new diagnostics and vaccines. Tris-tricine SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis separation of proteins in tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD) and in 6-8-week culture filtrates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium bovis BCG, and other Mycobacterium species demonstrated as many as 10 low molecular mass bands. Common and distinct bands were observed among different species and PPD. These low molecular mass culture filtrate proteins may represent potential diagnostic reagents and vaccines for Mycobacterium tuberculosis.     

ESAT-6 from Mycobacterium tuberculosis dissociates from its putative chaperone CFP-10 under acidic conditions and exhibits membrane-lysing activity

The 6-kDa early secreted antigenic target ESAT-6 and the 10-kDa culture filtrate protein CFP-10 of Mycobacterium tuberculosis are secreted by the ESX-1 system into the host cell and thereby contribute to pathogenicity. Although different studies performed at the organismal and cellular levels have helped to explain ESX-1-associated phenomena, not much is known about how ESAT-6 and CFP-10 contribute to pathogenesis at the molecular level. In this study we describe the interaction of both proteins with lipid bilayers, using biologically relevant liposomal preparations containing dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC), dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol, and cholesterol. Using flotation gradient centrifugation, we demonstrate that ESAT-6 showed strong association with liposomes, and in particular with preparations containing DMPC and cholesterol, whereas the interaction of CFP-10 with membranes appeared to be weaker and less specific. Most importantly, binding to the biomembranes no longer occurred when the proteins were present as a 1:1 ESAT-6.CFP-10 complex. However, lowering of the pH resulted in dissociation of the protein complex and subsequent protein-liposome interaction. Finally, cryoelectron microscopy revealed that ESAT-6 destabilized and lysed liposomes, whereas CFP-10 did not. In conclusion, we propose that one of the main features of ESAT-6 in the infection process of M. tuberculosis is the interaction with biomembranes that occurs after dissociation from its putative chaperone CFP-10 under acidic conditions typically encountered in the phagosome.     

Ovarian cancer marker of 11.7 kDa detected by proteomics is a serum amyloid A1

In this study, to reduce the number of major plasma components, we examined thermostable plasma fractions to search for a biomarker of ovarian cancer. An apparent cancer biomarker of 11.7 kDa was detected in these fractions using ProteinChip SELDI-TOF mass spectrometry system. This peak invariably appeared with another close peak of about 11.5 kDa, suggesting that it is a derivative of a larger mass molecule. Of 27 cancer plasma specimens, 15 (55.6%) demonstrated this peak pair, whereas only 2 of 34 controls specimens (5.8%) were shown to express it with low intensity. Using a method involving cysteine modification by 4-vinylpyridine (4-VP), 2-DE and HPLC, these peaks were identified by mass spectrometry as serum amyloid A1 (11.68 kDa) and its N-terminal arginine-truncated form (11.52 kDa).     

Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv ESAT-6-CFP-10 complex formation confers thermodynamic and biochemical stability

The 6-kDa early secretory antigenic target (ESAT-6) and culture filtrate protein-10 (CFP-10), expressed from the region of deletion-1 (RD1) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv, are known to play a key role in virulence. In this study, we explored the thermodynamic and biochemical changes associated with the formation of the 1 : 1 heterodimeric complex between ESAT-6 and CFP-10. Using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), we precisely determined the association constant and free energy change for formation of the complex to be 2 x 10(7) M(-1) and -9.95 kcal.mol(-1), respectively. Strikingly, the thermal unfolding of the ESAT-6-CFP-10 heterodimeric complex was completely reversible, with a T(m) of 53.4 degrees C and DeltaH of 69 kcal.mol(-1). Mixing of ESAT-6 and CFP-10 at any temperature below the T(m) of the complex led to induction of helical conformation, suggesting molecular recognition between specific segments of unfolded ESAT-6 and CFP-10. Enhanced biochemical stability of the complex was indicated by protection of ESAT-6 and an N-terminal fragment of CFP-10 from proteolysis with trypsin. However, the flexible C-terminal of CFP-10 in the complex, which has been shown to be responsible for binding to macrophages and monocytes, was cleaved by trypsin. In the presence of phospholipid membranes, ESAT-6, but not CFP-10 and the complex, showed an increase in alpha-helical content and enhanced thermal stability. Overall, complex formation resulted in structural changes, enhanced thermodynamic and biochemical stability, and loss of binding to phospholipid membranes. These features of complex formation probably determine the physiological role of ESAT-6, CFP-10 and/or the complex in vivo. The ITC and thermal unfolding approach described in this study can readily be applied to characterization of the 11 other pairs of ESAT-6 family proteins and for screening ESAT-6 and CFP-10 mutants.     

Characterization of a bovine pregnancy-associated protein using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, N-terminal sequencing and mass spectrometry

Bovine pregnancy-associated protein (bPAP) isolated from pregnant bovine urines by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) was characterized by N-terminal sequencing, internal sequencing, and mass spectrometric analyses using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry. Database search using the amino acid sequences and the peptide mass profiles showed that the protein is a novel bovine pregnancy-associated protein of which the N-terminus has a high similarity to collagen alpha. The protein has a molecular mass of 21 kDa and a pI of 6.1. The expression profiles of the protein from the urine of 30 pregnant and 20 nonpregnant cows characterized by 2-DE indicated that the expression of bPAP during pregnancy increased to over nmol from the pmol level basal expression of bPAP at the nonpregnant state with < 3% of false negatives and < 10% of false positives. Using the peptide sequence information, polyclonal antibodies against the bPAP protein were generated. The purified polyclonal antibodies against the peptide sequences of bPAP detected the 21 kDa protein on the blots of pregnant cow urine by Western blot analysis. In addition, analysis showed that the expression of bPAP in the urine is associated with pregnancy, but that the urine concentration of bPAP is not correlated with the duration of the pregnancy.     

The ESAT-6 Protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Interacts with Beta-2-Microglobulin (β2M) Affecting Antigen Presentation Function of Macrophage

ESAT-6, an abundantly secreted protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) is an important virulence factor, inactivation of which leads to reduced virulence of M. tuberculosis. ESAT-6 alone, or in complex with its chaperone CFP-10 (ESAT-6:CFP-10), is known to modulate host immune responses; however, the detailed mechanisms are not well understood. The structure of ESAT-6 or ESAT-6:CFP-10 complex does not suggest presence of enzymatic or DNA-binding activities. Therefore, we hypothesized that the crucial role played by ESAT-6 in the virulence of mycobacteria could be due to its interaction with some host cellular factors. Using a yeast two-hybrid screening, we identified that ESAT-6 interacts with the host protein beta-2-microglobulin (β2M), which was further confirmed by other assays, like GST pull down, co-immunoprecipitation and surface plasmon resonance. The C-terminal six amino acid residues (90–95) of ESAT-6 were found to be essential for this interaction. ESAT-6, in complex with CFP-10, also interacts with β2M. We found that ESAT-6/ESAT-6:CFP-10 can enter into the endoplasmic reticulum where it sequesters β2M to inhibit cell surface expression of MHC-I-β2M complexes, resulting in downregulation of class I-mediated antigen presentation. Interestingly, the ESAT-6:β2M complex could be detected in pleural biopsies of individuals suffering from pleural tuberculosis. Our data highlight a novel mechanism by which M. tuberculosis may undermine the host adaptive immune responses to establish a successful infection. Identification of such novel interactions may help us in designing small molecule inhibitors as well as effective vaccine design against tuberculosis.     

Protein identification and tracking in two-dimensional electrophoretic gels by minimal protein identifiers

Protein identification by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass-spectrometry peptide mass fingerprinting (MALDI-MS PMF) represents a cornerstone of proteomics. However, it often fails to identify low-molecular-mass proteins, protein fragments, and protein mixtures reliably. To overcome these limitations, PMF can be complemented by tandem mass spectrometry and other search strategies for unambiguous protein identification. The present study explores the advantages of using a MALDI-MS-based approach, designated minimal protein identifier (MPI) approach, for protein identification. This is illustrated for culture supernatant (CSN) proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv after separation by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE). The MPI approach takes into consideration that proteins yield characteristic peptides upon proteolytic cleavage. In this study, peptide mixtures derived from tryptic protein cleavage were analyzed by MALDI-MS and the resulting spectra were compared with template spectra of previously identified counterparts. The MPI approach allowed protein identification by few protein-specific signature peptide masses and revealed truncated variants of mycobacterial elongation factor EF-Tu, previously not identified by PMF. Furthermore, the MPI approach can be employed to track proteins in 2-DE gels, as demonstrated for the 14 kDa antigen, the 10 kDa chaperone, and the conserved hypothetical protein Rv0569 of M. tuberculosis H37Rv. Furthermore, it is shown that the power of the MPI approach strongly depends on distinct factors, most notably on the complexity of the proteome analyzed and accuracy of the mass spectrometer used for peptide mass determination.     

Characterisation of rice anther proteins expressed at the young microspore stage

In combination with two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-DE) protein mapping and mass spectrometry analysis, the pattern of gene expression in specific tissues at a specific stage can be displayed and characterised. We used this approach for rice (Oryza sativa L. cultivar Doongara) to display and assign identity to proteins in the anthers at the young microspore stage. Over 4000 anther proteins in the pI range of 4-11 and molecular mass range of 6-122 kDa were reproducibly resolved after silver staining, representing about 10% of the estimated total genomic output of rice. Two hundred and seventy-three protein spots have been extracted either from polyninylidene diffluoride membrane blots or from colloidal Coomassie blue stained 2-DE gels and analysed by N-terminal sequencing, Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MS) analysis or tandem MS sequencing. This enabled identification of 53 anther protein spots representing 43 different proteins. Using the publicly available rice expressed sequence tag (EST) database at the National Centre for Biotechnology Information, a further 37 protein spots were matched to ESTs. After BLAST searching with these ESTs, we were able to predict the identity of 22 of these protein spots. Proteome reference maps of rice anthers have been constructed according to the SWISS-2DPAGE standards and are available for public access at http://semele.anu.edu.au/2d/2d.html.     

Characterization of wheat gliadin proteins by combined two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and tandem mass spectrometry

A proteomics-based approach was used for characterizing wheat gliadins from an Italian common wheat (Triticum aestivum) cultivar. A two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) map of roughly 40 spots was obtained by submitting the 70% alcohol-soluble crude protein extract to isoelectric focusing on immobilized pH gradient strips across two pH gradient ranges, i.e., 3-10 or pH 6-11, and to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide electrophoresis in the second dimension. The chymotryptic digest of each spot was characterized by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry and nano electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) analysis, providing a "peptide map" for each digest. The measured masses were subsequently sought in databases for sequences. For accurate identification of the parent protein, it was necessary to determine de novo sequences by MS/MS experiments on the peptides. By partial mass fingerprinting, we identified protein molecules such as alpha/beta-, gamma-, omega-gliadin, and high molecular weight-glutenin. The single spots along the 2-DE map were discriminated on the basis of their amino acid sequence traits. alpha-Gliadin, the most represented wheat protein in databases, was highly conserved as the relative N-terminal sequence of the components from the 2-DE map contained only a few silent amino acid substitutions. The other closely related gliadins were identified by sequencing internal peptide chains. The results gave insight into the complex nature of gliadin heterogeneity. This approach has provided us with sound reference data for differentiating gliadins amongst wheat varieties.     

Proteomic Analysis of Osmotic Stress-Responsive Proteins in Sugarcane Leaves

Osmotic stress-related proteins in sugarcane were identified using proteomics approach based on two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). Sugarcane settlings were subjected to osmotic stress in the nutrient solution containing 10% (w/v) PEG 6000 for 14 h. Total proteins were extracted from leaves, and separated by 2-DE. Four typical spots exhibited significant changes in PEG treatment compared to control, which were identified using MALDI-TOF-MS successfully. The drought inducible 22 kDa protein and Rubisco small subunit were up-regulated while isoflavone reductase-like (IRLs, related to antioxidant defense system) protein and delta chain of ATP synthase were down-regulated by the osmotic stress. Analysis of the results showed that the most differential proteins under osmotic stress were acidic, unstable and transmembrane proteins, enriched with hydrophobic amino acids such as leucine and alanine which are extremely important for structural stabilization of proteins by hydrophobic interaction. However, the drought inducible 22 kDa protein was a hydrophile and non-transmembrane protein enriched with glutamic acid. These results provide new insight into the part of regulatory mechanism of adaptations to osmotic stress through differential expression of specific proteins and implicate several previously unrecognized proteins to osmotic stress.     

Mass spectrometric protein structure characterization reveals cause of migration differences of haptoglobin alpha chains in two-dimensional gel electrophoresis

Haptoglobin belongs to the major constituents of plasma and acts as hemoglobin-binding and acute-phase protein. Due to the occurrence of three major allelic variants and further structural modifications, the alpha chains of haptoglobin form varying spot patterns in two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) gels, which is generally observed in differential proteome analyses using plasma or related body fluids of humans. In the present study plasma samples from 10 donors of initially unknown haptoglobin phenotype were separated by 2-DE and tryptic digests of excised haptoglobin alpha chain spots were analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and MALDI-quadrupole ion trap TOF-MS. Haptoglobin alpha1S, alpha1F, as well as alpha2 chains were found to occur each with at least three structurally differing protein species: (i) the unmodified form, which corresponds to the sequence database entries; (ii) derivatives, in which asparagine at position five is deamidated to aspartic acid; and (iii) derivatives with an additional C-terminal arginine residue. These structural variants account for the most commonly observed spot patterns of haptoglobin alpha chains in Coomassie-stained gels. Additionally, a minor derivative of the haptoglobin alpha2 chain carrying both modifications, deamidation at position five and the C-terminal arginine residue, was identified. Theoretical pI values of the characterized structural variants are, consistent with their observed migration in the 2-DE gels.     

A Novel B-Cell Epitope Identified within Mycobacterium tuberculosis CFP10/ESAT-6 Protein

Background

The 10-kDa culture filtrate protein (CFP10) and 6-kDa early-secreted target antigen (ESAT-6) play important roles in mycobacterial virulence and pathogenesis through a 1∶1 complex formation (CFP10/ESAT-6 protein, CE protein), which have been used in discriminating TB patients from BCG-vaccinated individuals. The B-cell epitopes of CFP10 and ESAT-6 separately have been analyzed before, however, the epitopes of the CE protein are unclear and the precise epitope in the positions 40 to 62 of ESAT-6 is still unknown.

Methods

In the present study, we searched for the B-cell epitopes of CE protein by using phage-display library biopanning with the anti-CE polyclonal antibodies. The epitopes were identified by sequence alignment, binding affinity and specificity detection, generation of polyclonal mouse sera and detection of TB patient sera.

Results

One linear B-cell epitope (KWDAT) consistent with the 162^nd–166^th sequence of CE and the 57^th–61^st sequence of ESAT-6 protein was selected and identified. Significantly higher titers of E5 peptide-binding antibodies were found in the sera of TB patients compared with those of healthy individuals.

Conclusion

There was a B-cell epitope for CE and ESAT-6 protein in the position 40 to 62 of ESAT-6. E5 peptide may be useful in the serodiagnosis of tuberculosis, which need to be further confirmed by more sera samples.     

The ESAT-6/CFP-10 secretion system of Mycobacterium marinum modulates phagosome maturation

Virulence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and related pathogenic mycobacteria requires the secretion of early secretory antigenic 6 kDa (ESAT-6) and culture filtrate protein 10 (CFP-10), two small proteins that lack traditional signal sequences and are exported through an alternative secretion pathway encoded primarily by the RD1 genetic locus. Mutations affecting the synthesis or secretion of ESAT-6 or CFP-10 attenuate the virulence of M. tuberculosis in murine models of infection. However, the specific functions of these proteins and of their secretion system are currently unclear. In this study, we isolated a mutant of Mycobacterium marinum defective in the secretion of ESAT-6 and CFP-10. The mutation was localized within MM5446, which is orthologous to Rv3871 of M. tuberculosis H37Rv and encodes an ATPase that is a component of the ESAT-6/CFP-10 secretion system. The mutant bacteria were unable to replicate within J774 macrophages although their growth in 7H9 medium was equivalent to the parental strain. Phagosome maturation and acidification were analysed in infected macrophages by confocal and electron microscopy using the late endosome/lysosome marker LAMP-1, along with various fluid-phase markers such as rhodamine-dextran and ferritin and the acidotropic dye LysoTracker Red. These studies demonstrated that while the wild-type parental strain of M. marinum primarily resides in a poorly acidified, non-lysosomal compartment, a significantly higher percentage of the MM5446 mutant organisms are in acidified compartments. These results suggest that the ESAT-6/CFP-10 secretion system plays a role in preventing phagolysosomal fusion, a novel function that accounts for the ability of bacteria to survive inside host cells. This finding provides a mechanism by which the ESAT-6/CFP-10 secretion system potentiates the virulence of pathogenic mycobacteria.     

Mycobacterium tuberculosis secretory proteins CFP-10, ESAT-6 and the CFP10:ESAT6 complex inhibit lipopolysaccharide-induced NF-kappaB transactivation by downregulation of reactive oxidative species (ROS) production

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) causes death of 2-3 million people annually and is considered one of the most successful intracellular pathogens to persist inside the host macrophage. Recent studies have implicated the role of RD-1 region of Mtb genome in the mycobacterial pathogenesis. The role of RD-1-encoded secretory proteins of Mtb in modulation of macrophage function has not been investigated in detail. Here we show that RD-1 encoded two major secretory proteins, namely, culture filtrate protein-10 kDa (CFP-10) and early secreted antigenic target-6 kDa (ESAT-6), and their 1:1 CFP-10:ESAT6 complex inhibit production of reactive oxidative species (ROS) in RAW264.7 cells. These proteins also downregulated the bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ROS production, which, in turn, downregulated LPS-induced nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) p65 DNA-binding activity, as well as inhibited the NF-kappaB-dependent reporter gene (chloramphenicol acetyl transferase) expression in the treated macrophages. Moreover, addition of N-acetyl cysteine, which is a scavenger of ROS, also inhibited LPS-induced reporter gene expression by scavenging the ROS, thereby preventing NF-kappaB transactivation. These studies indicate that the secretory proteins CFP-10, ESAT-6 and the CFP10:ESAT6 complex of Mtb can inhibit LPS-induced NF-kappaB-dependent gene expression via downregulation of ROS production.     

An iterative calibration method with prediction of post-translational modifications for the construction of a two-dimensional electrophoresis database of mouse mammary gland proteins

Protein databases serve as general reference resources providing an orientation on two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) patterns of interest. The intention behind constructing a 2-DE database of the water soluble proteins from wild-type mouse mammary gland tissue was to create a reference before going on to investigate cancer-associated protein variations. This database shall be deemed to be a model system for mouse tissue, which is open for transgenic or knockout experiments. Proteins were separated and characterized in terms of their molecular weight (M(r)) and isoelectric point (pI) by high resolution 2-DE. The proteins were identified using prevalent proteomics methods. One method was peptide mass fingerprinting by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry. Another method was N-terminal sequencing by Edman degradation. By N-terminal sequencing M(r) and pI values were specified more accurately and so the calibration of the master gel was obtained more systematically and exactly. This permits the prediction of possible post-translational modifications of some proteins. The mouse mammary gland 2-DE protein database created presently contains 66 identified protein spots, which are clickable on the gel pattern. This relational database is accessible on the WWW under the URL: http://www.mpiib-berlin.mpg.de/2D-PAGE.     

The plastid ribosomal proteins. Identification of all the proteins in the 30 S subunit of an organelle ribosome (chloroplast)

Identification of all the protein components of a plastid (chloroplast) ribosomal 30 S subunit has been achieved, using two-dimensional gel electropholesis, high performance liquid chromatography purification, N-terminal sequencing, polymerase chain reaction-based screening of cDNA library, nucleotide sequencing, and mass spectrometry (electrospray ionization, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight, and reversed-phase HPLC coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry). 25 proteins were identified, of which 21 are orthologues of all Escherichia coli 30 S ribosomal proteins (S1-S21), and 4 are plastid-specific ribosomal proteins (PSRPs) that have no homologues in the mitochondrial, archaebacterial, or cytosolic ribosomal protein sequences in data bases. 12 of the 25 plastid 30 S ribosomal proteins (PRPs) are encoded in the plastid genome, whereas the remaining 13 are encoded by the nuclear genome. Post-translational transit peptide cleavage sites for the maturation of the 13 cytosolically synthesized PRPs, and post-translational N-terminal processing in the maturation of the 12 plastid synthesized PRPs are described. Post-translational modifications in several PRPs were observed: alpha-N-acetylation of S9, N-terminal processings leading to five mature forms of S6 and two mature forms of S10, C-terminal and/or internal modifications in S1, S14, S18, and S19, leading to two distinct forms differing in mass and/or charge (the corresponding modifications are not observed in E. coli). The four PSRPs in spinach plastid 30 S ribosomal subunit (PSRP-1, 26.8 kDa, pI 6.2; PSRP-2, 21.7 kDa, pI 5.0; PSRP-3, 13.8 kDa, pI 4.9; PSRP-4, 5.2 kDa, pI 11.8) comprise 16% (67.6 kDa) of the total protein mass of the 30 S subunit (429.3 kDa). PSRP-1 and PSRP-3 show sequence similarities with hypothetical photosynthetic bacterial proteins, indicating their possible origins in photosynthetic bacteria. We propose the hypothesis that PSRPs form a "plastid translational regulatory module" on the 30 S ribosomal subunit structure for the possible mediation of nuclear factors on plastid translation.     

Characterization of Vitronectin-Binding Proteins of Staphylococcus epidermidis

Staphylococcus epidermidis is the most common microorganism that is isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt infection patients. Vitronectin adsorbed on the surface of implants may mediate bacterial adhesion and colonization. To characterize vitronectin-binding properties, we analyzed S. epidermidis BD5703 isolated from a CSF shunt infection. Expression of vitronectin-binding protein(s) depended on culture media. Two proteins (60 and 52 kDa) were purified from vitronectin affinity chromatography. Two other vitronectin-binding proteins (21 and 16 kDa) were purified from an ion-exchange column. All purified proteins blocked bacterial binding of immobilized vitronectin significantly except the 16-kDa protein. The N-terminal sequences of the 21- and 16-kDa proteins did not show any appreciable amino acid sequence homology. The 52-kDa protein was sequenced by mass spectrometry and identified as an autolysin. This report demonstrates that interaction of vitronectin with multiple recognition sites on BD5703 surface may contribute to bacterial colonization. Received: 6 September 2000 / Accepted: 6 November 2000