Phagocytic inhibitory activity in serum of cats immunized withPseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide

Sequentially collected sera from cats chronically immunized withPseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide (LPS) serotype 5 were assessed for their effect on phagocytosis by alveolar macrophages from nonimmunized cats. Phagocytosis was measured by incubating macrophage monolayers for 20 min in the presence of³H-labeled bacteria and 5% serum from control or immunized animals. Sustained phagocytic inhibitory activity developed in the sera of eight of 11 immunized cats (mean inhibition ranged from 30% to 73%) after 13 weekly immunizations. The activity was specific because phagocytosis ofStaphylococcus aureus andP. aeruginosa of another serotype (type 6) was unimpaired. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed an increase in the amount of LPS-specific IgG in postimmunization sera from the eight cats with inhibitory activity. The IgG appeared to be serotype specific because significantly higher titers were obtained against LPS serotype 5 than LPS serotype 6. The results suggest that phagocytic inhibitory activity in sera from LPS-immunized cats may be due to anti-LPS IgG.     

Humoral immunity induced in the lower respiratory tract by local immunization with a temperature-sensitive mutant ofPseudomonas aeruginosa

The nature of the humoral immune mechanisms involved in the protection induced after local immunization with a temperature-sensitive (ts) mutant ofPseudomonas aeruginosa was investigated. We had previously shown that intranasal (i.n.) immunization of granulocytopenic mice protected the animals from lethal pulmonary challenge withP. aeruginosa, whereas mice immunized intraperitoneally were unprotected. Intranasal immunization induced high levels of anti-P. aeruginosa IgG and IgA in the lower respiratory tract, whereas only modest levels of IgG (and no IgA) could be detected in lung lavage fluids from mice immunized by the intraperitoneal (i.p.) route with ts mutant E/9/9. Plasma anti-P. aeruginosa IgG levels after i.n. immunization were lower than those observed after i.p. immunization with similar doses of the ts mutant. The main contribution to the protection induced when mice are immunized intranasally appears to be from IgA in the pulmonary secretions, although other immune mechanisms cannot be discounted.     

Pseudomonas aeruginosa outer membrane protein F produced inEscherichia coli retains vaccine efficacy

Pseudomonas aeruginosa outer membrane protein F was purified by extraction from polyacrylamide gels of cell envelope proteins of anEscherichia coli strain expressing the cloned gene for protein F. Antisera directed against protein F purified fromP. aeruginosa PAO1 reacted with thisE. coli strain by immunofluorescence assay and immunoblotting, whereas these antisera were nonreactive withE. coli strains lacking thePseudomonas protein F gene. The protein F purified from thisE. coli strain was used to immunize mice by intramuscular injection of 10 µg of protein F preparation on days 1 and 14, followed by burn and challenge of the mice on day 28. As compared with control mice immunized withE. coli K-12 lipopolysaccharide, immunization with theE. coli-derived protein F afforded significant protection against subsequent challenge with heterologous Fisher-Devlin immunotype 5 and 6 strains ofP. aeruginosa. Antisera from mice immunized with theE. coli-derived protein F reacted at bands corresponding to protein F and 2-mercaptoethanol-modified protein F upon immunoblotting against cell envelope proteins of the PAO1, immunotype 5, and immunotype 6 strains ofP. aeruginosa and theE. coli strain containing the cloned F gene, but failed to react at these sites in anE. coli strain lacking the F gene. These data demonstrate thatP. aeruginosa protein F produced inE. coli through genetic engineering techniques retains its vaccine efficacy in the complete absence of anyP. aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide.     

Recombinant outer membrane protein F ofPseudomonas aeruginosa elicits antibodies that mediate opsonophagocytic killing,but not complement-mediated bacteriolysis,of various strains ofP. aeruginosa

Recombinant outer membrane protein F ofPseudomonas aeruginosa was purified by extraction from polyacrylamide gels of cell envelope proteins of anEscherichia coli strain expressing the cloned gene for protein F. Rats were immunized intramuscularly with 25 g of recombinant protein F adsorbed to aluminum hydroxide adjuvant on days 1, 14, and 28 and then challenged on day 42 via intratracheal inoculation of agar beads containing cells of a clinical isolate ofP. aeruginosa. On day 49 the lungs were examined macroscopically for the presence and severity of lesions and submitted for quantitation of the bacteria present. The recombinant protein F vaccine afforded significant protection against subsequent challenge withP. aeruginosa in the immunized rats, as compared with control rats immunized with bovine serum albumin. Antisera from the recombinant protein F-immunized rats mediated opsonophagocytic uptake by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes of wild-type cells ofP. aeruginosa but exhibited no opsonic activity against a protein F-deficient mutant ofP. aeruginosa. The antisera to recombinant protein F did not promote complement-mediated bacteriolysis ofP. aeruginosa. These data demonstrate that recombinantP. aeruginosa protein F has efficacy as a protective vaccine in a rat model of chronic pulmonary infection.     

Comparative studies of fructose 1,6-diphosphate aldolase fromEscherichia coli 518 andLactobacillus casei var.rhamnosus ATCC 7469

A comparative study has been carried out with FDP aldolases fromEscherichia coli 518 andLactobacillus casei ATCC 7469, which had been purified 17.6- and 65-fold, respectively. The aldolase ofL.casei was stable only in the presence of mercaptoethanol, whereas that ofE.coli was strongly inhibited at low (1.0×10^–4 m) and activated at high concentrations (2.0×10^–1 m) of the same compound.p-Chloromercuric benzoic acid inhibited both aldolases, with 40% inhibition at 2×10^–5 m withE.coli aldolase against at 2×10^–4 m withL.casei aldolase. Significant differences were also observed in pH optima and Km values.E.coli aldolase exhibited a maximal activity at pH 9.0 and gave a Km value of 1.76×10^–3 m FDP with strong substrate inhibition above 7×10^–3 m, against pH 6.8–7.0 and a Km of 7.04×10^–3 m FDP forL.casei aldolase. Strong resistance ofL.casei aldolase against inhibition by EDTA, Ca²⁺ and Mn²⁺ was observed compared with complete inhibition at concentrations of 20mm, 40mm and 20mm, respectively, withE. coli aldolase. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis did not reveal any differences between the two enzyme preparations.The differences of the properties of FDP aldolases from different bacterial genera are discussed in relation to other Class II aldolases.     

In vitro activity of a combination of colimycin and tetracycline againstPseudomonas aeruginosa andEscherichia coli

Summary Thein vitro activity of a combination of colimycin and tetracycline againstPseudomonas aeruginosa andEscherichia coli was studied with the aid of tube dilution tests,Elek andHilson's modification of the replica technique, and growth inhibition curves. The interaction between the two antibiotics was as a rule of an additive nature, but a slight synergism was observed in some instances. The values of the minimum inhibitory concentrations did not seem to influence the nature of the interaction. A considerable synergism observed in all tube dilution tests withE. coli strains is attributed partly to addition and partly to suppression of the growth of more colimycin-resistant bacteria by the tetracycline. Possiblein vivo applications of this antibiotic combination are briefly discussed.     

The pathway ofD-cycloserine biosynthesis inStreptomyces garyphalus

Incubation experiments using washed cells and toluene treated cells ofStreptomyces garyphalus showed that O-acetyl-L-serine and hydroxyurea are intermediates in the biosynthesis ofD-cycloserine. The formation of [¹⁴C]O-ureidoserine from O-acetyl-L-serine and hydroxyurea was demonstrated by incubating an enzyme solution with¹⁴C-labelled substrates. Desalted cell-free extract catalyzed the conversion of O-ureido-D-serine toD-cycloserine in a reaction requiring ATP and Mg²⁺. The results suggested the following pathway forD-cycloserine biosynthesis.     

Comparative in vitro activity of moxalactam (LY127935), other beta-lactam antibiotics,and aminoglycosides

Moxalactam (LY127935), a novel beta-lactam antibiotic, was compared with semisynthetic penicillins, cephalosporins, and aminoglycosides by the agar dilution method against 5,317 recent clinical isolates of facultative and anaerobic bactria. At 0.5 μg/ml, moxalactam inhibited 90% of all Gram-negative bacilli tested except forPseudomonas aeruginosa (81% inhibited by 32 μg/ml) andAcinetobacter calcoaceticus (88% inhibited by 32 μg/ml). More than 90% ofBacteroides fragilis andStaphylococcus aureus were inhibited by 4 μg/ml and 8 μg/ml, respectively. Moxalactam was at least 16-fold more active by weight than cephalothin, cefamandole, and cefoxitin forEscherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, andEnterobacter species, and 2- to 4-fold more active than cefoxitin forB. fragilis. Moxalactam was 4-fold less active than cefamandole and cephalothin forS. aureus and 2- to 4-fold less active than piperacillin forP. aeruginosa. Moxalactam was as active or more active than the aminoglycosides for all facultative Gram-negative bacilli except forP. aeruginosa. Moxalactam was inhibitory (minimal inhibitory concentration <16 μg/ml) for 20/27 gentamicin-resistant isolates and 8/13 amikacin-resistant organisms. Moxalactam’s in vitro activity against Gram-negative bacilli is markedly superior to presently available cephalosporins and, except forP. aeruginosa, is comparable to the aminoglycosides.     

Substrate regulation of ascorbate transport activity in astrocytes

Astrocytes possess a concentrativel-ascorbate (vitamin C) uptake mechanism involving a Na⁺-dependentl-ascorbate transporter located in the plasma membrane. The present experiments examined the effects of deprivation and supplementation of extracellularl-ascorbate on the activity of this transport system. Initial rates ofl-ascorbate uptake were measured by incubating primary cultures of rat astrocytes withl-[¹⁴C]ascorbate for 1 min at 37°C. We observed that the apparent maximal rate of uptake (V _max) increased rapidly (<1 h) when cultured cells were deprived ofl-ascorbate. In contrast, there was no change in the apparent affinity of the transport system forl-[¹⁴C]ascorbate. The increase inV _max was reversed by addition ofl-ascorbate, but notD-isoascorbate, to the medium. The effects of external ascorbate on ascorbate transport activity were specific in that preincubation of cultures withl-ascorbate did not affect uptake of 2-deoxy-D-[³H(G)]glucose. We conclude that the astroglial ascorbate transport system is modulated by changes in substrate availability. Regulation of transport activity may play a role in intracellular ascorbate homeostasis by compensating for regional differences and temporal fluctuations in external ascorbate levels.     

N2-Succinylornithine in ornithine catabolism of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Most Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO mutants which were unable to utilize l-arginine as the sole carbon and nitrogen source (aru mutants) under aerobic conditions were also affected in l-ornithine utilization. These aru mutants were impaired in one or several enzymes involved in the conversion of N²-succinylornithine to glutamate and succinate, indicating that the latter steps of the arginine succinyltransferase pathway can be used for ornithine catabolism. Addition of aminooxyacetate, an inhibitor of the N²-succinylornithine 5-aminotransferase, to resting cells of P. aeruginosa in ornithine medium led to the accumulation of N²-succinylornithine. In crude extracts of P. aeruginosa an ornithine succinyltransferase (l-ornithine:succinyl-CoA N²-succinyltransferase) activity could be detected. An aru mutant having reduced arginine succinyltransferase activity also had correspondingly low levels of ornithine succinyltransferase. Thus, in P. aeruginosa, these two activities might be due to the same enzyme, which initiates aerobic arginine and ornithine catabolism.Abbreviations OAT ornithine 5-aminotransferase - SOAT N²-succinylornithine 5-aminotransferase - Oru ornithine utilization - Aru arginine utilization     

Enterobacteria of emerging pathogenic significance from clinical cases in man and animals and detection of toads and wall lizards as their reservoirs

A total of 416 samples comprising faecal samples from diarrhoeic cases of man, calves, sheep and goats, and urine samples from patients with urinary tract infections, were examined for the presence of enterobacteria of emerging pathogenic significance.Citrobacter freundii from 20,C. intermedius biotype-a from four,Serratia marcescens (serotype 05:H13, bactericin type 16) from one andErwinia herbicola from two human stool samples were isolated. Only two urine samples yieldedC. freundii. Citrobacter freundii was isolated from 10 andC. intermedius biotype-a from two calves. From sheep and goats, two isolates ofC. freundii and three ofC. intermedius biotype-a were obtained. None of these samples yieldedEdwardsiella tarda orYersinia enterocolitica. The examination of 99 toads and 145 wall lizards revealed that toads were reservoirs forC. freundii, C. intermedius biotype-a andSalmonella brijbhumi, whereas wall lizards were reservoirs forC. freundii, C. intermedius biotype-a,E. herbicola, Enterobacter cloacae andSalmonella spp. These bacteria were present in the range of 2.0 × 10⁶ to 6.0 × 10¹¹ organisms per gram of intestinal contents. In addition, toads were carriers forEdwardsiella tarda (new serotypes 04167:H1 and 05159: nonmotile). None of the toads and wall lizards proved positive forC. intermedius biotype-b (C. koseri),S. marcescens andY. enterocolitica. C. freundii, C. intermedius biotype-a,E. herbicola andS. marcescens were resistant to penicillin and erythromycin whereasE. tarda isolates were also resistant to gentamycin, neomycin, colistin and sulfamethaxazole.     

Role of Pseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharides in modulation of biofilm and virulence factors of Enterobacteriaceae

Enterobacteriaceae members are largely distributed in the environment and responsible for a wide range of bacterial infections in hospitalized patients. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) causes severe nosocomial infections associated with severe inflammation due to its potent virulent factors including lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The aim of this study is to assess the bacterial LPS effect on Enterobacteriaceae biofilm and other virulence factors in vitro. The effect of P. aeruginosa LPS on biofilm formation of two other species of Enterobacteriaceae (Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae) was assessed using a standard biofilm assay. PCR was performed on genes of biofilm and virulence factors. Expression of biofilm, type-1-fimbriae and serum resistance genes in treated and untreated cells was measured with RT-PCR. P. aeruginosa LPS has the ability to stimulate biofilm formation and stabilize the already formed biofilm significantly in all tested strains. In addition, LPS significantly increased the level of expression of Bss, FimH, and Iss genes when measured by RT-PCR. P. aeruginosa LPS has a direct stimulatory effect on the biofilm formation, type-1-fimbriae, and serum resistance in both E. coli and K. pneumoniae. So, the presence of P. aeruginosa in mixed infection with Enterobactereacea leads to increase their virulence.

     

LPS-based conjugate vaccines composed of O-polysaccharide from Pseudomonas aeruginosa IATS 6 and 11 bound to a carrier protein

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is the major surface antigen of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and elicits protective antibodies in animals. No cross reaction was observed between LPSs of P. aeruginosa International Antigenic Typing Scheme (IATS) 6 and 11 strains using rabbit polyclonal antibodies raised against the whole cells. The O-polysaccharides (O-PSs) from IATS 6 and 11, the antigenic determinant of LPS, were directly coupled to bovine serum albumin (BSA) by carbodiimide mediated condensation reaction. The molar ratios of saccharide repeating units to BSA in the prepared conjugates were 15:1 and 26:1 for IATS 6 and 11 conjugates, respectively. Mice were immunized with the conjugates emulsified with monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL), Freund, and Alum adjuvants. The conjugates emulsified with MPL adjuvant elicited the highest IgM antibody, followed by Freund. While both MPL and Freund adjuvants elicited high IgG antibody. Good correlation was observed between the IgG and IgM levels with the bactericidal activities of the sera against homologous strains. In addition, immunization of mice with the prepared conjugates emulsified with MPL and Freund adjuvants provided high protection against ten times the LD₅₀ of P. aeruginsoa IATS 6 and 11, which showed a good correlations with the IgG titer.     

Biosynthesis of pseudoisoeugenol-derivatives in liquid tissue cultures ofPimpinella anisum

The genusPimpinella contains rare phenylpropanoids. The 1-(E)-propenyl-2-hydroxy-5-methoxy benzene skeleton of these compounds is called pseudoisoeugenol. To study the biosynthesis of these compounds, we set up a tissue culture ofPimpinella anisum (PAD) that selectively promoted the production of epoxy-pseudoisoeugenol-(2-methylbutyrate), termed EPB. This compound served as the final molecule of the biosynthetic pathway in all labelling experiments conducted.The putative precursors were labelled with¹³C or¹⁴C. The incorporation of the label was followed by¹³C-NMR-spectroscopy and liquid scintillation, respectively. Based on our labelling experiments as well as on enzymic reactions in a cell homogenate we proposed a genaral biosynthetic pathway for EPB. The biosynthetic sequence found wasl-phenylalanine, trans-cinnamic acid, p-coumaric acid, p-coumaric aldehyde, p-coumaric alcohol, anol and trans-anethol. The biosynthetic step leading from trans-anethol to pseudo-isoeugenol involves migration of the side chain during the introduction of the second OH-group in the molecule (NIH-shift). The final biosynthetic steps to form EPB must be acylation and epoxidation of the propenyl double bond of pseudoisoeugenol.Abbreviations NMR Nuclear Magnetic Resonance - NOE Nuclear Overhauser Effect     

Protective activities of ribosomal ribonucleic acid and lipopolysaccharide of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: a comparative study

Ribosomal ribonucleic acid (RNA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from P. aeruginosa were compared with respect to their protective activities in mice against an infection with P. aeruginosa. This study is concentrated on the protective activity of RNA. RNA isolated from purified ribosomes did not contain LPS as determined with the Limulus test. Injection of RNA with the adjuvant dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide (DDA) protected mice against P. aeruginosa without inducing LPS-specific antibodies. C₃H/HeJ mice which are relatively insensitive to the protective activity of LPS could be protected with RNA. The protective activities of RNA and LPS from a mutant strain of P. aeruginosa, PAC 605, containing defective lipopolysaccharide, were compared with the protective activities of RNA and LPS from the parent strain, PAC IR. The protective activity of LPS from PAC 605 was 1000 fold lower than the protective activity of LPS from PAC IR. RNA preparations of both strains induced similar percentages of survival. The protective activity of ribosomal RNA from P. aeruginosa was nonspecific since mice were also protected against a heterologous serotype of P. aeruginosa and against Escherichia coli. RNA from ribosomes of P. aeruginosa, E. coli and the non-lipopolysaccharide containing Saccharomyces cerevisiae had similar protective activities. No protection was obtained with the ribonucleic acid from the E. coli phage MS 2. It is concluded that ribosomal RNA has protective activities distinct from those of LPS.     

Effect of inoculation withKlebsiella oxytoca andEnterobacter cloacae on dinitrogen fixation by rice-bacteria associations

The influence ofKlebsiella oxytoca andEnterobacter cloacae inoculation on dinitrogen fixation by the rice-bacteria association was examined in pots in a greenhouse. For inoculation,K. oxytoca NG13 isolated from a Japan paddy soil,E. cloacae E26 isolated from a China soil and following three strains were employed.K. oxytoca NG1389 is a mutant from NG13 and has no nitrogenase activity (nif). K. oxytoca NG13/pMC71A andE. cloacae E26/pMC71A were produced by inserting anif A containingK. pneumoniae plasmid (pMC71A) to NG13 and E26, respectively. These two strains were able to fix dinitrogen fixation in the presence of ammonium, whereas nitrogenase activity of wild strains (NG13 and E26) were repressed under this condition. Inoculation effects were tested on two rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties, a Indica type C5444 and a Japonica type T65. Rice seedlings were planted to nonsterilized potted soil, and grown under flooded conditions. Upon inoculation with NG13 and E26, growth and N increment of plants particularly in T65 were stimulated above NG1389 inoculated plants. Assay by¹⁵N dilution and acetylene reduction techniques indicated that this N increment may be due to fixed N. Inoculation with NG13/pMC71A and E26/pMC71A resulted in more dry weight and fixed N than those of NG13 and E26 inoculated plants. Dr Y. Hirota died on 23 December 1986.     

Factors Affecting Attachment of Enterobacter cloacae to Germinating Cotton Seed

Abstract Attachment of Enterobacter cloacae EcCT-50,—a biological seed protectant used to control the seed-rotting fungi, Pythium ultimum—to cotton seed was examined using conventional fluorescent microscopy (CFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and laser scanning microscopy (LSM). In sand microcosms, E. cloacae quickly attached to the seed coat, with maximum attachment, 3 to 5 h after inoculation at 24°C. In contrast, initial attachment of non-bacterized seed by Pythium ultimum was not observed until 6 h (and not until 8 h on bacterized seeds). Comparison of the movement of E. cloacae and P. ultimum in seed exudate gradient semi-soft agar showed faster movement by the bacterium within the first 6 h, and reduction of P. ultimum hyphal and germ tube growth in the presence of the bacterium. Microscopic observation of the seed coat revealed an early, intimate association, mediated, in part, by fimbriae, and confirmed a loose association of E. cloacae with the seed coat previously reported. Spatially, the attached E. cloacae cells were distributed over the entire surface of the seed coat, but were especially abundant in the groves and near cracks where water imbibition and seed exudate release may occur. As the seed germinated and exposed various seed tissues, the bacterium rapidly attached to these tissues. Attachment of the bacterium to the surface of intact germinating seeds, excised seed coat, polystyrene, and glass was 300, 110, 51, and <1 cell field⁻¹ 3 h⁻¹, respectively, suggesting that attachment is enhanced by seed germination. Attachment of E. cloacae to the seed coat was optimum in sands with high water concentrations, at temperatures of 18 to 30°C, and at times that corresponded with optimum water imbibition during germination. Using several assays, attachment was shown to be enhanced by seed exudate, and compounds such as methanol, fructose, and calcium. The results suggest that the release of certain nutrients and water imbibition during germination may play a role in the rapid attachment to the seed by E. cloacae. The ability of E. cloacae to rapidly move and attach to the seed coat may be related to its ability to function as a biocontrol agent. Received: 24 April 1997; Accepted 29 October 1997     

Antibacterial potential of Forsythia suspensa polysaccharide against resistant Enterobacter cloacae with SHV‐12 extended‐spectrum β‐lactamase (ESBL)

In this study, a homogenous polysaccharide (FSP), with an average molecular weight of 9.08 × 10⁴ Da, was isolated from Forsythia suspense and its antibacterial potential against Enterobacter cloacae producing SHV‐12 ESBL was investigated. Growth kinetics, in vitro competition and biofilm formation experiments demonstrated that SHV‐12 ESBL contributed to a fitness benefit to E cloacae strain. The antibacterial activity of FSP (2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 μg/mL) was tested against E cloacae bearing SHV‐12 ESBL gene using bacterial sensitivity, agar bioassay and agar well diffusion assays. It was found that the addition of FSP demonstrated potent antibacterial activities against this bacterial as showed by the decrease of bacterial growth and the increase of the inhibition zone diameter. Furthermore, SHV‐12 ESBL gene expression was decreased in E cloacae strain following different FSP treatment in a concentration‐dependent manner. In conclusion, these data showed that FSP exhibited potent good antibacterial activity against E cloacae producing SHV‐12 ESBL via inhibition of SHV‐12 ESBL gene expression, which may promote the development of novel natural antibacterial agents to treat infections caused by this drug‐resistant bacterial pathogen.     

Plasmid-determined cloacin DF13-susceptibility inEnterobacter cloacae andKlebsiella edwardsii; identification of the cloacin DF13/aerobactin outer membrane receptor proteins

BothEnterobacter cloacae H478 andKlebsiella edwardsii S15 were shown to harbour a relatively large conjugative plasmid that coded for cloacin DF13-susceptibility and the production and uptake of a hydroxamate iron chelator, most probably aerobactin. Protein-blotting experiments with antiserum raised against the purified cloacin DF13/aerobactin receptor protein fromEscherichia coli (Co1V-K30) revealed that the corresponding outer membrane receptor proteins ofEnt. cloacae H478 andK. edwardsii S15 had apparent mol wts of 85 000 and 76000, respectively.E. coli transconjugants harbouring either the plasmid fromEnt. cloacae H478 orK. edwardsii S15 expressed a cloacin DF13/aerobactin outer membrane receptor protein with a mol wt of 74000. The receptor protein encoded by theEnt. cloacae andK. edwardsii plasmids were immunologically more related to each other than to the pCo1V-K30-encoded receptor protein.     

Purification and partial characterization of ad(−)-lactate dehydrogenase fromDesulfovibrio desulfuricans (ATCC 7757)

Summary A membrane-boundd(–)-lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), an important enzyme in carbon and energy metabolism in sulfate-reducing bacteria of the genusDesulfovibrio, was solubilized from the membrane fraction ofDesulfovibrio desulfuricans (ATCC 7757). The enzyme was purified 84-fold to a final specific activity of 525 nmol DCPIP-reduced/min/mg protein by ammonium sulfate precipitation, chloroform extraction, gel filtration with Sephadex G-150, and hydrophobic column chromatography withN-octylamine Sepharose 4B. The enzyme eluted off a Sephacryl S-300 column as a single peak with a molecular weight of 400 000±40 000 Da. Denaturing gel electrophoresis showed it to be composed of 5 protein bands. The oxidized and dithionite reduced spectra of LDH resembles the spectra ofc-type cytochromes found inDesulfovibrio species. The addition of lactate to LDH resulted in a partially reduced spectrum. The flavin/cytochromec/non-heme iron content per 400 000 Da LDH molecular weight was found to be 11.64.5. The LDH activity was specific ford(–)-lactate and had aK _m ford(–)-lactate of 4.3×10^–4 M. The pH optimum was between 6.5 and 8.5.