Shuttle cloning and nucleotide sequences of Helicobacter pylori genes responsible for urease activity.

Production of a potent urease has been described as a trait common to all Helicobacter pylori so far isolated from humans with gastritis as well as peptic ulceration. The detection of urease activity from genes cloned from H. pylori was made possible by use of a shuttle cosmid vector, allowing replication and movement of cloned DNA sequences in either Escherichia coli or Campylobacter jejuni. With this approach, we cloned a 44-kb portion of H. pylori chromosomal DNA which did not lead to urease activity when introduced into E. coli but permitted, although temporarily, biosynthesis of the urease when transferred by conjugation to C. jejuni. The recombinant cosmid (pILL585) expressing the urease phenotype was mapped and used to subclone an 8.1-kb fragment (pILL590) able to confer the same property to C. jejuni recipient strains. By a series of deletions and subclonings, the urease genes were localized to a 4.2-kb region of DNA and were sequenced by the dideoxy method. Four open reading frames were found, encoding polypeptides with predicted molecular weights of 26,500 (ureA), 61,600 (ureB), 49,200 (ureC), and 15,000 (ureD). The predicted UreA and UreB polypeptides correspond to the two structural subunits of the urease enzyme; they exhibit a high degree of homology with the three structural subunits of Proteus mirabilis (56% exact matches) as well as with the unique structural subunit of jack bean urease (55.5% exact matches). Although the UreD-predicted polypeptide has domains relevant to transmembrane proteins, no precise role could be attributed to this polypeptide or to the UreC polypeptide, which both mapped to a DNA sequence shown to be required to confer urease activity to a C. jejuni recipient strain.     

Identification of erythrocyte-binding antigens in Helicobacter pylori.

The surface antigens of Helicobacter pylori conferring erythrocyte-binding activity were obtained by adsorption onto formaldehyde-treated dog and goat erythrocytes from supernatant fractions of sonicated bacteria and elution using a high concentration of NaCl. The desorbed material was analysed by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting with anti-whole-cell serum to agar-grown bacteria which had been absorbed with broth-grown, non-haemagglutinating cells (haemagglutination-associated antiserum). Two polypeptides with molecular masses of 25 and 59 kDa were revealed as erythrocyte-binding antigens. Strains which agglutinated both dog and goat erythrocytes possessed both these erythrocyte-binding antigens, whereas an antigenically cross-reactive 24 kDa polypeptide was present in a strain which only agglutinated goat erythrocytes. Haemagglutinin material was extracted from H. pylori using n-octylglucopyranoside and purified by Sepharose chromatography and sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation. The purified extract directly agglutinated erythrocytes in a neuraminyl-lactose-sensitive and neuraminidase-sensitive manner. The 59 kDa polypeptide was not present in the purified haemagglutinin preparation. The haemagglutination-associated antiserum reacted strongly with the 25 kDa polypeptide band which was the most prominent polypeptide band on analysis of the purified haemagglutinin preparation by SDS-PAGE and silver staining. Thus, H. pylori possesses at least two adhesins, one of which recognises a N-acetylneuraminic acid (alpha 2-3) moiety of receptors, the other being of unknown receptor specificity. Differences in the antigenicity and molecular masses of these adhesins in individual strains may underlie differences in receptor-binding specificities and haemagglutination profiles.     

Helicobacter pylori ABC transporter: effect of allelic exchange mutagenesis on urease activity.

Helicobacter pylori urease requires nickel ions in the enzyme active site for catalytic activity. Nickel ions must, therefore, be actively acquired by the bacterium. NixA (high-affinity nickel transport protein)-deficient mutants of H. pylori retain significant urease activity, suggesting the presence of alternate nickel transporters. Analysis of the nucleotide sequence of the H. pylori genome revealed a homolog of NikD, a component of an ATP-dependent nickel transport system in Escherichia coli. Based on this sequence, a 378-bp DNA fragment was PCR amplified from H. pylori genomic DNA and used as a probe to identify an H. pylori lambda ZAPII genomic library clone that carried these sequences. Four open reading frames of 621, 273, 984, and 642 bp (abcABCD) were revealed by sequencing and predicted polypeptides of 22.7, 9.9, 36.6, and 22.8 kDa, respectively. The 36.6-kDa polypeptide (AbcC) has significant homology (56% amino acid sequence identity) to an E. coli ATP-binding protein component of an ABC transport system, while none of the other putative proteins are significantly homologous to polypeptides in the available databases. To determine the possible contribution of these genes to urease activity, abcC and abcD were each insertionally inactivated with a kanamycin resistance (aphA) cassette and allelic exchange mutants of each gene were constructed in H. pylori UMAB41. Mutation of abcD resulted in an 88% decrease in urease activity to 27 +/- 31 mumol of NH3/min/mg of protein (P < 0.0001), and a double mutant of nixA and abcC resulted in the near abolishment of urease activity (1.1 +/- 1.4 mumol of NH3/min/mg of protein in the double mutant versus 228 +/- 92 mumol of NH3/min/mg of protein in the parent [P < 0.0001]). Synthesis of urease apoenzyme, however, was unaffected by mutations in any of the abc genes. We conclude that the abc gene cluster, in addition to nixA, is involved in production of a catalytically active urease.     

Monoclonal antibodies directed against surface-associated polypeptides of Treponema pallidum define a biologically active antigen

Murine monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) were raised against two outer-membrane-associated polypeptides of Treponema pallidum (47 and 44 kDa). Three Mabs against each polypeptide were investigated further and only those directed against the 44 kDa polypeptide were demonstrated to have immobilizing activity. The specificity of the Mabs for T. pallidum was determined by Western blotting procedures and the surface association of the antigens was inferred by immunogold electron microscopy. The clear distinction between these two polypeptides in their biological activity could help to explain the pathobiology of syphilis infections as the 47 kDa antigen has been shown to be associated with the outer membrane of this organism. Inactivity of such a surface-located protein in antibody-mediated anti-treponemal mechanisms could account for the observed ability of this organism to survive in the face of strong antibody responses in infection.     

Preliminary characterization of the urease and a 96 kDa surface-expressed polypeptide of Ureaplasma urealyticum

Analysis by SDS-PAGE of Ureaplasma urealyticum (predominantly serotype 8), propagated in a growth medium containing 10% (v/v) foetal calf serum, revealed a complex series of polypeptides apparently free of medium contaminants. Serological analysis using an immobilized antibody reagent, and immunoblotting using a polyclonal serum, showed the presence of two major and several minor antigens. One major antigen, a putative surface component of apparent molecular mass 96 kDa was shown, with a monoclonal antibody, to be serotype-specific. Growth of the organism was partially suppressed in the presence of the antibody. The second major antigen had an apparent molecular mass of 76 kDa and was presumed to be an internal component since it failed to label with the Bolton and Hunter reagent, in contrast to the 96 kDa antigen. Another monoclonal antibody was characterized which detected the canonical urease enzyme of the organism serotype 8 and of the two other human serotypes tested. Purification of this urease antigen by affinity chromatography and electrophoretic analysis of polypeptides after denaturation revealed a single polypeptide of molecular mass 76 kDa, putatively related to the above major antigen. Enzymic activity could be recovered after purification and demonstrated by in situ techniques only when electrophoretic analysis was done under non-denaturing conditions suggesting that the functional enzyme is a multimeric complex.     

Expression of Helicobacter pylori urease genes in Escherichia coli grown under nitrogen-limiting conditions.

Helicobacter pylori produces a potent urease that is believed to play a role in the pathogenesis of gastroduodenal diseases. Four genes (ureA, ureB, ureC, and ureD) were previously shown to be able to achieve a urease-positive phenotype when introduced into Campylobacter jejuni, whereas Escherichia coli cells harboring these genes did not express urease activity (A. Labigne, V. Cussac, and P. Courcoux, J. Bacteriol. 173:1920-1931, 1991). Results that demonstrate that H. pylori urease genes could be expressed in E. coli are presented in this article. This expression was found to be dependent on the presence of accessory urease genes hitherto undescribed. Subcloning of the recombinant cosmid pILL585, followed by restriction analyses, resulted in the cloning of an 11.2-kb fragment (pILL753) which allowed the detection of urease activity (0.83 +/- 0.39 mumol of urea hydrolyzed per min/mg of protein) in E. coli cells grown under nitrogen-limiting conditions. Transposon mutagenesis of pILL753 with mini-Tn3-Km permitted the identification of a 3.3-kb DNA region that, in addition to the 4.2-kb region previously identified, was essential for urease activity in E. coli. Sequencing of the 3.3-kb DNA fragment revealed the presence of five open reading frames encoding polypeptides with predicted molecular weights of 20,701 (UreE), 28,530 (UreF), 21,744 (UreG), 29,650 (UreH), and 19,819 (UreI). Of the nine urease genes identified, ureA, ureB, ureF, ureG, and ureH were shown to be required for urease expression in E. coli, as mutations in each of these genes led to negative phenotypes. The ureC, ureD, and ureI genes are not essential for urease expression in E. coli, although they belong to the urease gene cluster. The predicted UreE and UreG polypeptides exhibit some degree of similarity with the respective polypeptides encoded by the accessory genes of the Klebsiella aerogenes urease operon (33 and 92% similarity, respectively, taking into account conservative amino acid changes), whereas this homology was restricted to a domain of the UreF polypeptide (44% similarity for the last 73 amino acids of the K. aerogenes UreF polypeptide). With the exception of the two UreA and UreB structural polypeptides of the enzyme, no role can as yet be assigned to the nine proteins encoded by the H. pylori urease gene cluster.     

Selective and effective bactericidal activity of the cobalt (II) cation against Helicobacter pylori

BACKGROUND: Although the anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of bismuth is well established, the therapeutic potential of other metal ions against the organism is not known. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We measured the minimum inhibitory concentrations of a series of metal ions, including several cobalt (II) compounds against four type strains and seven clinical isolates of H. pylori using three standard broth culture media and a defined medium. Other intestinal bacteria were also investigated for specificity of action. RESULTS: Cobalt chloride had marked activity against H. pylori (minimum inhibitory concentration range was 0.03-1.0 mg/l). The effect was specific because other transition metals had no effect and other intestinal bacteria were not affected by cobalt chloride. Activity was attributable to free cobalt ions as ligands inhibited activity in proportion to their affinity for the ions. Inhibition of cobalt activity was also observed in the presence of nickel, in a dose dependent fashion. However, cobalt activity was not directed towards the nickel-dependent urease enzyme because its effect was similar in wild-type and urease negative mutant strains of H. pylori. Finally, the viability of H. pylori was reduced at the same rate with 2 mg/l cobalt as with 1 mg/l amoxicillin. CONCLUSIONS: Cobalt competes for nickel in its acquisition by H. pylori, but mediates toxicity in a nonurease dependent fashion. As cobalt MIC is similar to some antibiotics and 10 to a hundred times lower than for bismuth, cobalt may represent an effective form of therapy for H. pylori infection.     

Cloning of the genes encoding urease from Proteus vulgaris and sequencing of the structural genes

A fragment of chromosomal DNA from proteus vulgaris encoding urease was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. A 3 kbp region was sequenced and revealed three open reading frames with homology to jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis) urease. The smallest protein (11 kDa) was homologous to the N-terminus of the plant enzyme and the largest polypeptide (61 kDa) corresponded to the C-terminus. The large protein contained conserved regions and a cysteine residue which is known to be catalytically important in the plant enzyme. A protein of 12 kDa showed homology to residues 132 to 237 of jack bean urease.     

Isolation and identification of three bactericidal domains in the bovine alpha-lactalbumin molecule

Proteolytic digestion of alpha-lactalbumin by pepsin, trypsin and chymotrypsin yielded three polypeptide fragments with bactericidal properties. Two fragments were obtained from the tryptic digestion. One was a pentapeptide with the sequence EQLTK (residues 1-5) and the other, GYGGVSLPEWVCTTF ALCSEK (residues (17-31)S-S(109-114)), was composed of two polypeptide chains held together by a disulfide bridge. Fragmentation of alpha-lactalbumin by chymotrypsin yielded CKDDQNPH ISCDKF (residues (61-68)S-S(75-80)), also a polypeptide composed of two polypeptide chains held together by a disulfide bridge. The three polypeptides were synthesized and found to exert antimicrobial activities. The polypeptides were mostly active against Gram-positive bacteria. Gram-negative bacteria were only poorly susceptible to the bactericidal action of the polypeptides. GYGGVSLPEWVCTTF ALCSEK was most, EQLTK least bactericidal. Replacement of leucine (23) with isoleucine, having a similar chemical structure but higher hydrophobicity, in the sequence GYGGVSLPEWVCTTF ALCSEK significantly reduced the bactericidal capacity of the polypeptide. Digestion of alpha-lactalbumin by pepsin yielded several polypeptide fragments without antibacterial activity. alpha-Lactalbumin in contrast to its polypeptide fragments was not bactericidal against all the bacterial strains tested. Our results suggest a possible antimicrobial function of alpha-lactalbumin after its partial digestion by endopeptidases.     

Construction of isogenic urease-negative mutants of Helicobacter pylori by allelic exchange.

Isogenic urease-negative mutants of Helicobacter pylori were constructed by allelic replacement. A region of cloned H. pylori DNA containing the structural urease genes (ureA and ureB) was disrupted by insertion of a mini-Tn3-Km transposon. Electrotransformation of H. pylori cells with kanamycin-ureB-disrupted derivative plasmids resulted in isolation of kanamycin-resistant H. pylori transformants. Competence for electrotransformation appeared to be restricted to certain wild-type H. pylori isolates; only 1 isolate (of 10 tested) was consistently transformed. Two of the kanamycin-resistant H. pylori transformants were further studied and shown to be urease negative. Southern hybridization analyses demonstrated that the urease-negative mutants had been constructed by allelic exchange involving simultaneous replacement of the ureB gene with the kanamycin-ureB-disrupted copy and loss of the vector. Immunoblot studies of whole-cell extracts of the isogenic ureB mutants with anti-H. pylori sera indicated the absence of a polypeptide with an apparent molecular mass of 61 kDa; thus, the mutants no longer synthesized the UreB product. Generation of stable, genetically engineered urease mutants of H. pylori will be useful for addressing the role of urease in the pathogenesis of H. pylori infection.     

Sequence of the phosphoprotein gene of pneumonia virus of mice: expression of multiple proteins from two overlapping reading frames.

The gene encoding the phosphoprotein of the pneumovirus pneumonia virus of mice (PVM) has been cloned and sequenced. The gene is 903 nucleotides in length and contains a long open reading frame (ORF) capable of encoding a polypeptide of 295 amino acid residues. A smaller, second, overlapping ORF encoding a polypeptide 137 amino acids in length was also present. The large ORF directed the synthesis of a 39-kDa polypeptide and four additional polypeptides with masses of 37 kDa, 26 kDa, 23 kDa, and 16 kDa in vitro. The smaller polypeptides were generated by internal initiation on in-frame AUG initiation codons to generate carboxy co-terminal products. Western immunoblot analysis indicated that at least two of these proteins and several other related polypeptides are present in infected cells, and the possible origins of these are discussed. Western blot analysis using antiserum raised against a synthetic peptide and specific for the predicted second ORF product identified a polypeptide of 23 kDa in PVM-infected cells. The pattern of PVM P gene expression is unlike that of the closely related respiratory syncytial virus and is reminiscent of that of paramyxoviruses such as Sendai virus. This is the first example of a pneumovirus encoding multiple polypeptide products from a single mRNA in vivo.     

Contribution of dppA to urease activity in Helicobacter pylori 26695

BACKGROUND: The gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori produces urease in amounts up to 10% of its cell protein. This enzyme, which catalyzes the hydrolysis of urea to ammonia and carbon dioxide, protects the bacterium from gastric acid. Urease, a nickel metalloenzyme, requires active uptake of nickel ions from the environment to maintain its activity. NixA is a nickel transport protein that resides in the cytoplasmic membrane. Mutation of nixA significantly reduces but does not abolish urease activity, strongly suggesting the presence of a second transporter. We postulated that the dipeptide permease (dpp) genes that are homologous to the nik operon of Escherichia coli could be a second nickel transporter. The predicted Dpp polypeptides DppA, DppC, and DppD of H. pylori share approximately 40%, 53%, and 56% amino acid sequence identity with their respective E. coli homologs. METHODS: A mutation in dppA, constructed by insertional inactivation with a chloramphenicol resistance cassette, was introduced by allelic exchange into H. pylori strain 26695. RESULTS: When compared to the parental strain, urease activity was not decreased in a dppA mutant. CONCLUSIONS: DppA does not contribute to the synthesis of catalytically active urease in H. pylori 26695 and is likely not a nickel importer in H. pylori.     

Correlation of treponemicidal activity in normal human serum with the presence of IgG antibody directed against polypeptides of Treponema phagedenis biotype Reiter and Treponema pallidum, Nichols strain

Normal human serum (NHS) was shown to have complement-dependent treponemicidal activity against both Treponema pallidum and Treponema phagedenis biotype Reiter (TPR) by employing in vitro-in vivo neutralization and TPR plaque assays, respectively. The molecular basis of NHS treponemicidal activity was studied by immunoblot analysis in conjunction with treponemicidal assays. Five major T. pallidum polypeptide bands (47kDa, 35kDa, 33kDa doublet, and 30 kDa) and three major TPR polypeptide bands (47kDa and 33kDa doublet) bound IgG present in NHS. Absorption of NHS with TPR completely removed both TPR and T. pallidum treponemicidal activity; corresponding immunoblots demonstrated a significant removal of IgG antibody against all three TPR polypeptide bands as well as four T. pallidum polypeptide bands (30kDa, 33kDa doublet, and 35kDa). In contrast, T. pallidum absorption of NHS was found to remove treponemicidal activity against T. pallidum but not TPR; corresponding Western blots showed the complete removal of IgG antibody against all but one T. pallidum polypeptide band (47kDa) but no detectable loss in IgG antibody against the TPR polypeptides. These results suggest that antibody in NHS generated against nonpathogenic, indigenous treponemes is responsible for the T. pallidum treponemicidal activity. Furthermore, the treponemicidal activity against T. pallidum correlated with the presence of IgG antibody against T. pallidum polypeptides of 30kDa, 35kDa, and a 33kDa doublet.     

Processing of SP1 precursor in a cell-free system from poly(A+) mRNA of human placenta

Cell-free translation of polyadenylated mRNA from human term placenta in a wheat germ extract, after immunoprecipitation with antibodies directed against purified pregnant serum SP₁, yielded a single polypeptide of 31 kDa. Addition of dog pancreatic microsomal vesicles to the translation system resulted in the appearance of two polypeptides, one of them of 46 kDa and the other of 28 kDa. Both polypeptides were protected from limited proteolysis and when the assay was performed with lytic detergent concentrations in addition to proteases, this protection was abolished indicating that the polypeptides were segregated into the microsomal vesicles. The cleavage of a signal peptide of 3 kDa from the 31 kDa primary translation product gives rise to 28 kDa and accounts for the slight increase in electrophoretic mobility. The treatment of the immunoprecipitated products with Endoglycosidase H and -mannosidase, suggested that only the 46 kDa polypeptide is a glycoprotein.From the results obtained we conclude that SP₁ is synthesized and processed to a glycoprotein of 46 kDa which would be a protomeric form of the oligomers reported in pregnant serum by other authors.Abbreviations PMSF phenylmethyl sulfonylfluoride - TCA trichloroacetic acid - DTT dithiotreitol     

Entamoeba histolytica: purification and characterization of ornithine decarboxylase

Ornithine decarboxylase, a rate-limiting enzyme in polyamine biosynthesis in eukaryotes, was stabilized and purified from trophozoites of the parasite protozoan E. histolytica. Analytical electrophoresis revealed the presence in the purified preparations of a major polypeptide of 45 kDa and barely detectable amounts of two other proteins of 70 and 120 kDa. Both the 45 and 70 kDa polypeptides were recognized by a mouse anti-ODC monoclonal antibody. The major polypeptide exhibited amino terminal sequence homology in the range of 40-73% with ODCs from other organisms. The immunoreactive polypeptide of 70 kDa was not identified. The molecular masses of 216 and 45 kDa determined for the native enzyme by gel filtration and for the major polypeptide by SDS-PAGE, respectively, suggest that the amoeba ODC is a homopentamer. Dialysis against hydroxylamine rendered the enzyme activity fully dependent on pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP). As expected for an oligomeric enzyme, ODC activity exhibited sigmoidal kinetics when it was measured as a function of increasing concentrations of L-ornithine and PLP yielding S(0.5) values of 0.45 and 0.18 mM, respectively. Purified ODC was inhibited by 1,3-diaminopropane and 2,4-diamino-2-butanone but was largely insensitive to inhibition by alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), indicating that the enzyme may not be a suitable target for this anti-parasitic drug. Other features of the amoeba ODC were common with the enzyme from prokaryotes and eucaryotes.     

Characterization of the subunit structure of the maize tonoplast ATPase. Immunological and inhibitor binding studies

Gradient purified preparations of the maize 400-kDa tonoplast ATPase are enriched in two major polypeptides, 72 and 62 kDa. Polyclonal antibodies were prepared against these two putative subunits after elution from sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gel slices and against the solubilized native enzyme. Antibodies to both the 72- and 62-kDa polypeptides cross-reacted with similar bands on immunoblots of a tonoplast-enriched fraction from barley, while only the 72-kDa antibodies cross-reacted with tonoplast and tonoplast ATPase preparations from Neurospora. Antibodies to the 72-kDa polypeptide and the native enzyme both strongly inhibited enzyme activity, but the 62-kDa antibody was without effect. The identity and function of the subunits was further probed using radiolabeled covalent inhibitors of the tonoplast ATPase, 7-chloro-4-nitro[14C]benzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole ([14C]NBD-Cl) and N,N'-[14C]dicyclohexylcarbodiimide ([14C]DCCD). [14C]NBD-Cl preferentially labeled the 72-kDa polypeptide, and labeling was prevented by ATP. [14C]DCCD, an inhibitor of the proton channel portion of the mitochondrial ATPase, bound to a 16-kDa polypeptide. Venturicidin blocked binding to the mitochondrial 8-kDa polypeptide but did not affect binding to the tonoplast 16-kDa polypeptide. Taken together, the results implicate the 72-kDa polypeptide as the catalytic subunit of the tonoplast ATPase. The DCCD-binding 16-kDa polypeptide may comprise the proton channel. The presence of nucleotide-binding sites on the 62-kDa polypeptide suggests that it may function as a regulatory subunit.     

Two major antigens of heart sarcolemma are Ca2(+)-binding glycoproteins that copurify with the dihydropyridine receptor.

Ca2+ binding has been studied in isolated heart sarcolemmal membranes using the 45Ca overlay technique. 45Ca bound to two sarcolemmal polypeptides of 125 kDa and 97 kDa in preparations from dog, rabbit, cow and pig. During fractionation on DEAE ion-exchange and wheat-germ lectin affinity columns, the two Ca2(+)-binding polypeptides copurified with the dihydropyridine receptor associated with the voltage gated Ca2+ channel. These polypeptides were the major proteins in the isolated fraction as judged by silver staining in SDS-PAGE. Antisera raised against purified dog heart, sarcolemma indicated that the 125 and 97 kDa polypeptides were highly antigenic components of this membrane. The antisera cross-reacted with similar polypeptides in cardiac sarcolemmal preparations from rabbit, cow and pig, but not sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes. Purified antibodies against the 125 kDa polypeptide did not cross-react with the 97 kDa polypeptide, while antibodies against the 97 kDa polypeptide did not cross-react with the 125 kDa polypeptide. Both the 125 kDa and 97 kDa polypeptides bound wheat-germ lectin, suggesting both were glycoproteins. It is unlikely that these Ca2+ binding glycoproteins represent subunits of the dihydropyridine receptor-Ca2+ channel in this membrane.     

Proteomic and biochemical evidence links the callose synthase in Nicotiana alata pollen tubes to the product of the NaGSL1 gene

The NaGSL1 gene has been proposed to encode the callose synthase (CalS) enzyme from Nicotiana alata pollen tubes based on its similarity to fungal 1,3-beta-glucan synthases and its high expression in pollen and pollen tubes. We have used a biochemical approach to link the NaGSL1 protein with CalS enzymic activity. The CalS enzyme from N. alata pollen tubes was enriched over 100-fold using membrane fractionation and product entrapment. A 220 kDa polypeptide, the correct molecular weight to be NaGSL1, was specifically detected by anti-GSL antibodies, was specifically enriched with CalS activity, and was the most abundant polypeptide in the CalS-enriched fraction. This polypeptide was positively identified as NaGSL1 using both MALDI-TOF MS and LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis of tryptic peptides. Other low-abundance polypeptides in the CalS-enriched fractions were identified by MALDI-TOF MS as deriving from a 103 kDa plasma membrane H+-ATPase and a 60 kDa beta-subunit of mitochondrial ATPase, both of which were deduced to be contaminants in the product-entrapped material. These analyses thus suggest that NaGSL1 is required for CalS activity, although other smaller (<30 kDa) or low-abundance proteins could also be involved.     

Correlation of the Insecticidal Activity of the Bacillus thuringiensis A4 Strain Against Bactrocera oleae (Diptera) with the 140-kDa Crystal Polypeptide

The crystals of the soil-isolated Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) strain A4 consist of two polypeptides with molecular mass of 140 kDa and 32 kDa that exhibit insecticidal activity against adult flies of Bactrocera oleae (Diptera). Plasmid curing applied to this strain resulted in the isolation of several subclones exhibiting alterations in their crystal polypeptides as well as two acrystalliferous subclones. The crystals of subclone 1.1 lacked the 32-kDa polypeptide and consisted uniquely of a 140-kDa polypeptide antigenically related to the parental 140-kDa crystal polypeptide. Additionally, the crystals of this subclone exhibited insecticidal activity against B. oleae equivalent to that of the parental strain. Therefore, the 32-kDa crystal polypeptide is dispensable for insecticidal activity, which appears to be dependent on the presence of the 140-kDa crystal polypeptide. Received: 5 April 2000 / Accepted 2 May 2000