Studies on the Protein Moiety of Endotoxin from Gram-Negative Bacteria: Characterization of the Protein Moiety Isolated by Phenol Treatment of Endotoxin from S. Marcescens 08 and E. Coli O 141:K85(B)

摘要

The so-called 'simple' proteins isolated from the endotoxin of S. marcescens 08 and whole cells of E. coli 0 141:k85 (B) by aqueous phenol treatment were characterized by the determination of hydrodynamic properties, electrophoretic behavior, immunochemical specificity and chemical analysis. The chemical composition of both proteins revealed the presence of lipid A constituents such as glucosamine, phosphorus and fatty acids; the B-hydroxy myristic acid regarded as the characteristic marker for lipid A was present in all protein preparations. Evidence presented in this paper indicates that a portion of lipid A is firmly bound to the protein moieties. Therefore, endotoxin protein preparations isolated by aqueous phenol cannot be classified as 'simple' proteins if this term implies absence of compounds other than amino acids. The protein moieties from S. marcescens and F. coli were immunogenic and possessed a common antigenic determinant. (Author)