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Common antigenic domains in transferrin-binding protein 2 of Neisseria meningitidis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Haemophilus influenzae type b.

There is now considerable evidence to show that in the Neisseria and Haemophilus species, membrane receptors specific for either transferrin or lactoferrin are involved in the acquisition of iron from these glycoproteins. In Neisseria meningitidis, the transferrin receptor appears to consist of two proteins, one of which (TBP 1) has an M(r) of 95,000 and the other of which (TBP 2) has an M(r) ranging from 68,000 to 85,000, depending on the strain; TBP 2 binds transferrin after sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and electroblotting, but TBP 1 does not do so. The relative contributions of these two proteins to the binding reaction observed with intact cells and to iron uptake are presently unknown. However, they are being considered as potential components of a group B meningococcal vaccine. Analogous higher- and lower-molecular-weight proteins associated with transferrin binding have been found in N. gonorrhoeae and Haemophilus influenzae. Previous work with polyclonal antibodies raised in mice with whole cells of iron-restricted N. meningitidis showed that the meningococcal TBP 2 exhibits considerable antigenic heterogeneity. Here, we report that antiserum against purified TBP 2 from one strain of N. meningitidis cross-reacts on immunoblotting with the TBP 2 of all meningococcal isolates examined, as well as with the TBP 2 of N. gonorrhoeae. This antiserum also cross-reacted with the TBP 2 of several strains of H. influenzae type b, thus showing the presence of common antigenic domains among these functionally equivalent proteins in different pathogens; no cross-reaction was detected with a purified sample of the human transferrin receptor.

Animals↗

Gonococcal transferrin-binding protein 1 is required for transferrin utilization and is homologous to TonB-dependent outer membrane receptors.

The pathogenic Neisseria species are capable of utilizing transferrin as their sole source of iron. A neisserial transferrin receptor has been identified and its characteristics defined; however, the biochemical identities of proteins which are required for transferrin receptor function have not yet been determined. We identified two iron-repressible transferrin-binding proteins in Neisseria gonorrhoeae, TBP1 and TBP2. Two approaches were taken to clone genes required for gonococcal transferrin receptor function. First, polyclonal antiserum raised against TBP1 was used to identify clones expressing TBP1 epitopes. Second, a wild-type gene copy was cloned that repaired the defect in a transferrin receptor function (trf) mutant. The clones obtained by these two approaches were shown to overlap by DNA sequencing. Transposon mutagenesis of both clones and recombination of mutagenized fragments into the gonococcal chromosome generated mutants that showed reduced binding of transferrin to whole cells and that were incapable of growth on transferrin. No TBP1 was produced in these mutants, but TBP2 expression was normal. The DNA sequence of the gene encoding gonococcal TBP1 (tbpA) predicted a protein sequence homologous to the Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas putida TonB-dependent outer membrane receptors. Thus, both the function and the predicted protein sequence of TBP1 were consistent with this protein serving as a transferrin receptor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cloning and expression of a transferrin-binding protein from Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae.

An expression library was constructed from Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 7. Escherichia coli transformants expressing recombinant proteins were identified by immunoscreening with porcine convalescent serum. One transformant expressing a 60-kDa protein (60K protein) in aggregated form was identified. Serum raised against the recombinant protein recognized a polypeptide with an indistinguishable electrophoretic mobility in the A. pleuropneumoniae wild type after iron-restricted growth only. The recombinant protein bound transferrin after blotting onto nitrocellulose. Using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the specificity of this binding for the amino-terminal half of iron-saturated porcine transferrin was established. Also, the 60K wild-type protein bound hemin as assessed by hemin-agarose chromatography. Hemin could inhibit transferrin binding of the recombinant protein in the competitive ELISA, whereas hemoglobin and synthetic iron chelators failed to do so. Southern blot analysis of several other A. pleuropneumoniae strains indicated that highly homologous sequence is present in eight of eight isolates of serotype 7 and in some isolates of serotypes 2, 3, and 4.

Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae↗

Tn916 insertion mutagenesis in Escherichia coli and Haemophilus influenzae type b following conjugative transfer.

Transposon Tn916 was shown to be capable of direct conjugative transfer in broth and membrane matings between strains of Escherichia coli K12 and between E. coli K12 and Haemophilus influenzae type b. Only Tn916 was transferred, but Tn916 donor ability was not itself inheritable by the recipients and seemed to be associated with the presence of Tn916 on a non-conjugative pBR322-derived vector in the original donor strain. Transfer of Tn916 by conjugation was found to be an efficient method for producing insertion mutations in the chromosome of recipient cells. Although such insertions were unstable when the cells were grown under non-selective conditions, it was possible to show that over 40% of the isolated Tn916 insertions in the chromosome of E. coli K12 were in gene(s) concerned with histidine biosynthesis, implying that there is a partial hot-spot for Tn916 insertion on the E. coli K12 chromosome. When a strain of H. influenzae type b was used as a recipient, out of approximately 1500 transconjugants tested, two mutants were isolated with insertions in genes controlling the expression of iron-regulated transferrin-binding proteins. These mutants constitutively produced major 76 kDa and minor 90 kDa proteins which bound transferrin, even when grown under iron-sufficient conditions. Tn916 insertion mutagenesis, following transfer by conjugation, is a convenient method for isolating mutations in genes concerned with iron acquisition by this important human pathogen.

Bacteriological Techniques↗

Ribosomal protein P2, a novel iron-binding protein.

We examined the properties of a new iron-binding protein purified previously from rat liver (T. Furukawa, S. Taketani, H. Kohno, and R. Tokunaga, 1991, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 181, 409-415). The protein was digested with trypsin and the peptides were analyzed by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The partial amino acid sequences of the tryptic peptides coincided with that of rat ribosomal protein P2. Immunoblot analysis and iron-binding assay confirmed that the iron-binding protein and ribosomal protein P2 are identical. Then the iron binding ability of ribosomal protein P2 was examined in rat hepatoma H4IIEC3 cells incubated with radioactive iron. When immunoprecipitation with anti-iron-binding protein serum was performed using cells incubated with 59Fe-citrate, about 4% of the 59Fe radioactivity in cells was associated with the iron-binding protein through 30 to 90 min of incubation. About 1.5% of radioactive iron in cells incubated with 59Fe-transferrin was found in immunoprecipitates with anti-iron-binding protein serum during 1 to 5 h of incubation, and 4 to 7% of the radioactivity was found in immunoprecipitates with a monoclonal antibody against ribosomal P proteins in the same incubation. These results demonstrate that ribosomal proteins P2 binds iron taken up by the cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Iron(III)-binding polypeptide in human cord and adult serum: isolation, purification and partial characterization.

A low-molecular-weight, non-transferrin-bound, Fe(III)-binding polypeptide has been isolated and purified from normal human cord and adult sera by gel-filtration and high-performance liquid chromatography. The polypeptide was traced isotopically with 59Fe(III)-chloride and high voltage paper electrophoresis. This Fe(III)-binding polypeptide has been partially characterized, and found to be biochemically distinct from other known Fe(III)-binding proteins, such as transferrin, lactoferrin and ferritin. Furthermore, the electrophoretic mobility and amino-acid composition distinguish the polypeptide from other physiological iron chelators such as a previously described Fe(III)-citrate complex. The polypeptide is highly hydrophilic, rich in lysine residues and phosphorylated. The observed positive charge of the polypeptide is suggested to originate from these lysine residues. The molecular mass of this polypeptide is estimated to be approx. 2500 Da, which is in close agreement with previous reports and is consistent with amino-acid analysis data. Cord serum levels of the polypeptide were significantly higher than adult serum levels. The degree of Fe(III) specificity and the function of the Fe(III)-polypeptide have not been ascertained at the present time. It is possible that the polypeptide may compete for Fe(III) with transferrin and is involved in the mobilization and transportation of iron by some as yet unknown mechanism.

Adult↗

Isolation of an outer membrane hemin-binding protein of Haemophilus influenzae type b.

Haemophilus influenzae is a heme-dependent bacterium. However, little is known of the heme-iron uptake mechanism in this organism. By using a batch ligand affinity chromatography method, a hemin-binding protein of 39,500 molecular weight was isolated from total membranes derived from H. influenzae type b grown under iron-depleted but not under iron-sufficient conditions. Detection of the hemin-binding protein in a whole-cell binding assay demonstrated a surface-exposed location. Competition binding experiments indicated that this hemin-protein interaction was specific, since only hemin or heme-containing proteins, such as human hemoglobin and bovine catalase, but not protoporphyrin IX, iron-loaded human lactoferrin, or transferrin, could abrogate binding. In a limited survey of other H. influenzae strains, an identical hemin-binding protein was isolated, implying that this polypeptide may be structurally and functionally conserved among strains.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins↗

Antioxidant protection against organic and inorganic oxygen radicals by normal human plasma: the important primary role for iron-binding and iron-oxidising proteins.

Normal human plasma contains numerous high- and low-molecular-mass redox-active molecules that are able to react rapidly with organic and inorganic oxygen radicals. The ability of such plasma molecules to substantially inhibit, or delay, free-radical mediated oxidation of added substrates has led to their classification as important biological antioxidants. Using phospholipids to detect organic oxygen radicals and deoxyribose to detect inorganic oxygen radicals, we here show that the primary antioxidants of normal human plasma reside mainly in two plasma proteins representing no more than 4% of the total proteins present. The iron-binding properties of transferrin and the iron-oxidising properties of caeruloplasmin, at a reaction dilution of 1:50, offer considerable protection against organic and inorganic oxygen radicals generated by iron and ascorbate. Plasma thiol-group-containing molecules, at concentrations well below those that would be required to compete with the detector molecule (based on known second-order rate constants for reaction with hydroxyl radicals) inhibited damage to deoxyribose, but stimulated damage to phospholipids.

Antioxidants↗

Nonspecific antibacterial factors in milk from cows immunized with human oral bacterial pathogens.

Both the immunoglobulins and non-specific antibacterial factors in milk from cows immunized with pathogenic oral bacteria have the potential to influence the oral microflora during passive immunization studies. The first six milks after calving were collected from 2 cows immunized with adjuvant and from 14 cows immunized with adjuvant and heat-killed strains of periodontopathic Actinomyces, Porphyromonas, Prevotella, and Fusobacterium. Analysis of the products from the first to the sixth milks revealed that the protein and lysozyme content decreased approximately 66 and 72%, respectively; the mean specific activity of the enzyme remained relatively constant. In contrast, the mean lactoperoxidase activity increased 2.3-fold in the second milking and increased further in the fourth and sixth milkings. The mean iron-binding activity increased 1.2-fold from the first to the second milkings and then decreased 3.6-fold through the sixth milking. Cows immunized with adjuvant alone showed similar responses. Per unit volume, the milk contained approximately 150 times less lysozyme than whole human saliva obtained from six subjects but higher concentrations of lactoperoxidase and iron-binding components. Purified bovine nonspecific factors prevented the growth of the bacteria used for immunization when bacteria were tested at concentrations similar to those found in saliva and milk. Because bovine nonspecific antibacterial factors could influence both the pathogenic target bacteria and the indigenous microflora in oral passive immunization studies with bovine immunoglobulins, the presence of these proteins should be considered.

Actinomyces↗

Loss of the pigmentation phenotype in Yersinia pestis is due to the spontaneous deletion of 102 kb of chromosomal DNA which is flanked by a repetitive element.

The pigmentation (Pgm+) phenotype of Yersinia pestis encompasses a variety of different physiological traits, all of which are missing in Pgm- mutants. We have previously shown that loss of the Pgm+ phenotype is accompanied by the spontaneous deletion of at least 45 kb of chromosomal DNA, referred to as the pgm locus. Using chromosomal walking, we have now mapped the full extent of the pgm locus in Y. pestis strain KIM6+. Our results indicate that the locus spans 102 kb of DNA which is absent in the spontaneous Pgm- mutant, KIM6. Yersinia pseudotuberculosis PB1/0 contains sequences homologous to the entire pgm locus while only part of this region hybridized to Yersinia enterocolitica WA-LOX DNA. Restriction enzyme mapping and hybridization studies revealed the presence of a repetitive element at both ends of the pgm locus and in multiple copies elsewhere in the Y. pestis genome. This element may be responsible for generating the deletion.

Bacteriocins↗

Alaskan malamute chondrodysplasia--VII. Isolation and characterization of copper, zinc and iron binding proteins in Canis familiaris.

1. Three low molecular weight (12,000, 10,000 and 7,000) metal binding proteins have been isolated from the livers of normal and chondrodysplastic Alaskan Malamutes. 2. Comparison studies between kennel (mixed breed) dogs and both adult and immature Alaskan Malamutes suggested that the disturbance in trace mineral metabolism found in the Malamutes is almost entirely reflected in the 12,000 mol. wt species. 3. The major copper-inducible protein (10,000 mol. wt) observed in kennel dogs was not found to be inducible in Malamutes and contained constant ratios of both copper and zinc to protein in metal binding proteins isolated from the livers of both normal and dwarf Malamutes. 4. The copper and zinc found in the UM2 concentrates (mol. wt greater than 2000) of immature Malamutes showed very little affinity to the proteins and these metals were found chiefly in a peptide fraction which apparently serves as a reservoir from which the storage proteins obtain the metals that they bind. 5. Regression analysis indicated a statistically significant correlation between both copper and zinc concentrations and the carbohydrate concentration in the proteins investigated.

Amino Acids↗

A specific stain for the detection of nonheme iron proteins in polyacrylamide gels.

Nonheme iron proteins can be visualized as blue bands in native polyacrylamide gels using a staining method that is both simple and rapid. The reaction of potassium ferricyanide with protein-bound iron atoms to form royal blue complexes occurs almost instantaneously and is sensitive enough to detect 1 microgram of analytical-grade ferritin and 2 micrograms of purified ferredoxin from cyanobacteria. No special treatment of reagents or apparatus was necessary. On comparison, this stain was found to be more specific than the Ferene S stain, not detecting bovine serum albumin even when present as a hundredfold excess over ferritin. The method was found to be effective for isoelectric focusing gels as well.

Animals↗

Iron-binding proteins in human colorectal adenomas and carcinomas: an immunocytochemical investigation.

By immunocytochemistry, the presence of major iron-binding proteins (lactoferrin, transferrin and ferritin) was investigated in tubular adenomas (12 cases), villous adenomas (7 cases), carcinomas of the large bowel and rectum (39 cases) and lymph nodes involved in carcinomas (8 cases); 5 samples of colonic inflammatory pseudopolyps were also studied. Dysplastic areas of tubular and villous adenomas as well as adenocarcinomas and colloid carcinomas showed a variable cytoplasmic immunoreactivity for all antisera, although no staining was noted in some cases; tubular adenomas without dysplasia and colonic inflammatory pseudopolyps were always unstained. Metastatic elements present in lymph nodes maintained the immunohistochemical staining for iron-binding proteins. An autoctone production of lactoferrin, transferrin and ferritin by tumour cells may be hypothesized in relation to the increased requirement of iron for the turnover of rapidly dividing cells.

Adenoma↗

Transferrin receptor of the rabbit reticulocyte.

A Triton X-100 solubilized macromolecular complex of transferrin and a membrane constituent can be isolated by gel chromatography from rabbit reticulocytes previously incubated with 125I-labeled transferrin. The apparent molecular weight of this complex is close to that of ferritin, or about 445 000. On sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis the complex displays two glycoprotein subunits, of molecular weights 176 000 and 95 000 in addition to transferrin. A transferrin-binding fraction with a molecular weight near 400 000, containing these subunits, can also be identified in membranes of nonincubated reticulocytes. The corresponding membrane fraction from mature erythrocytes, which have lost transferrin-binding activity, displays both protein subunits, but the 176 000 molecular weight component fails to give a PAS stain for carbohydrate. Treatment of reticulocytes with Pronase, which destroys the ability of the cells to form specific complexes with transferrin, degrades both components. We believe these results are consistent with the hypothesis that the primary transferrin receptor of the rabbit reticulocyte is a glycoprotein of molecular weight in the range 350 000-400 000, comprised of a combination of two subunits with molecular weights 176 000 and 95 000, respectively. Transferrin-binding activity appears to depend on the carbohydrate moiety of the 176 000 subunit.

Animals↗