T-Cell-Stimulating 17-Kilodalton Protein of 'Francisella tularensis' LVS Is a Lipoprotein.

摘要

A T-cell stimulating, membrane-located 17-kiloDalton(kDa) protein of the live vaccine strain Francisella tularensis LVS has previously been cloned and sequenced. In the present study, it is shown to be a lipoprotein. When F. tularensis was grown in the presence of (3H)palmitate, several proteins of the organism, including a 17-kDa protein, were radiolabeled. The labeled 17-kDa protein was found by Western blot (immunoblot) analysis to be identical to the cloned protein. It was located in the detergent phase after partitioning with the nonionic detergent Triton X-114, thereby behaving like a hydrophobic integral membrane protein. The protein was predominantly hydrophilic and contained no putative transmembrane domain. The presence of fatty acids is therefore the probable explanation of the membrane location of the 17-kDa protein. (Copyright (c) 1991, American Society for Microbiology.)