Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Journal of Bacteriology logoLink to Journal of Bacteriology
. 1994 Feb;176(3):781–788. doi: 10.1128/jb.176.3.781-788.1994

Molecular characterization of the P1-like adhesin gene from Mycoplasma pirum.

T N Tham 1, S Ferris 1, E Bahraoui 1, S Canarelli 1, L Montagnier 1, A Blanchard 1
PMCID: PMC205115  PMID: 8300531

Abstract

A DNA fragment has been isolated from the genome of Mycoplasma pirum by use of a genetic probe derived from the conserved region within the genes for the major adhesins of Mycoplasma genitalium and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. A gene encoding an adhesin-like polypeptide was localized, and sequence analysis indicated a G + C content of only 28%, with A- and T-rich codons being preferentially used. A total of 91% of positions 3 were either A or T. The deduced polypeptide is 1,144 amino acids long (126 kDa) and shows 26% identity with the adhesins of M. genitalium and M. pneumoniae. Other features in common with these two membrane proteins include a similar hydropathic profile and a proline-rich C terminus. Antibodies were prepared by using as an immunogen a peptide derived from the C terminus of the M. pirum adhesin-like polypeptide and were found to recognize on immunoblots a 126-kDa polypeptide from an M. pirum cellular extract. The characterization of the adhesin-like gene is a first step toward a better understanding of the mechanisms allowing this human mycoplasma to attach to host cells.

Full text

PDF
781

Images in this article

782Image
on p.782
787Image
on p.787
787Image
on p.787

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Bisset L. R. The Mycoplasma genitalium adhesin protein and several human class II MHC proteins exhibit sequence homology: possible ramifications for the development of autoimmunity. Autoimmunity. 1992;14(2):167–168. doi: 10.3109/08916939209083137. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Blanchard A. Ureaplasma urealyticum urease genes; use of a UGA tryptophan codon. Mol Microbiol. 1990 Apr;4(4):669–676. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.1990.tb00636.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Dallo S. F., Baseman J. B. Adhesin gene of Mycoplasma genitalium exists as multiple copies. Microb Pathog. 1991 Jun;10(6):475–480. doi: 10.1016/0882-4010(91)90113-o. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Dallo S. F., Baseman J. B. Cross-hybridization between the cytadhesin genes of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Mycoplasma genitalium and genomic DNA of Mycoplasma gallisepticum. Microb Pathog. 1990 May;8(5):371–375. doi: 10.1016/0882-4010(90)90096-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Dallo S. F., Chavoya A., Su C. J., Baseman J. B. DNA and protein sequence homologies between the adhesins of Mycoplasma genitalium and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Infect Immun. 1989 Apr;57(4):1059–1065. doi: 10.1128/iai.57.4.1059-1065.1989. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Dallo S. F., Su C. J., Horton J. R., Baseman J. B. Identification of P1 gene domain containing epitope(s) mediating Mycoplasma pneumoniae cytoadherence. J Exp Med. 1988 Feb 1;167(2):718–723. doi: 10.1084/jem.167.2.718. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Grau O., Kovacic R., Griffais R., Montagnier L. Development of a selective and sensitive polymerase chain reaction assay for the detection of Mycoplasma pirum. FEMS Microbiol Lett. 1993 Feb 1;106(3):327–333. doi: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1993.tb05984.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Inamine J. M., Denny T. P., Loechel S., Schaper U., Huang C. H., Bott K. F., Hu P. C. Nucleotide sequence of the P1 attachment-protein gene of Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Gene. 1988 Apr 29;64(2):217–229. doi: 10.1016/0378-1119(88)90337-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Inamine J. M., Loechel S., Collier A. M., Barile M. F., Hu P. C. Nucleotide sequence of the MgPa (mgp) operon of Mycoplasma genitalium and comparison to the P1 (mpp) operon of Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Gene. 1989 Oct 30;82(2):259–267. doi: 10.1016/0378-1119(89)90051-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Inamine J. M., Loechel S., Hu P. C. Analysis of the nucleotide sequence of the P1 operon of Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Gene. 1988 Dec 15;73(1):175–183. doi: 10.1016/0378-1119(88)90323-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Jacobs E., Fuchte K., Bredt W. Isolation of the adherence protein of Mycoplasma pneumoniae by fractionated solubilization and size exclusion chromatography. Biol Chem Hoppe Seyler. 1988 Dec;369(12):1295–1299. doi: 10.1515/bchm3.1988.369.2.1295. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Kyte J., Doolittle R. F. A simple method for displaying the hydropathic character of a protein. J Mol Biol. 1982 May 5;157(1):105–132. doi: 10.1016/0022-2836(82)90515-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Lemaître M., Henin Y., Destouesse F., Ferrieux C., Montagnier L., Blanchard A. Role of mycoplasma infection in the cytopathic effect induced by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in infected cell lines. Infect Immun. 1992 Mar;60(3):742–748. doi: 10.1128/iai.60.3.742-748.1992. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Lewis D. E., Ulrich R. G., Atassi H., Atassi M. Z. HLA-DR peptide inhibits HIV-induced syncytia. Immunol Lett. 1990 May;24(2):127–131. doi: 10.1016/0165-2478(90)90023-j. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Lo S. C., Tsai S., Benish J. R., Shih J. W., Wear D. J., Wong D. M. Enhancement of HIV-1 cytocidal effects in CD4+ lymphocytes by the AIDS-associated mycoplasma. Science. 1991 Mar 1;251(4997):1074–1076. doi: 10.1126/science.1705362. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Mader B., Hu P. C., Huang C. H., Schilz E., Jacobs E. The mature MgPa-adhesin of Mycoplasma genitalium. Zentralbl Bakteriol. 1991 Jan;274(4):507–513. doi: 10.1016/s0934-8840(11)80088-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Merrifield B. Solid phase synthesis. Science. 1986 Apr 18;232(4748):341–347. doi: 10.1126/science.3961484. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Montagnier L., Berneman D., Guétard D., Blanchard A., Chamaret S., Rame V., Van Rietschoten J., Mabrouk K., Bahraoui E. Inhibition de l'infectiosité de souches prototypes du VIH par des anticorps dirigés contre une séquence peptidique de mycoplasme. C R Acad Sci III. 1990;311(12):425–430. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Montagnier L., Blanchard A. Mycoplasmas as cofactors in infection due to the human immunodeficiency virus. Clin Infect Dis. 1993 Aug;17 (Suppl 1):S309–S315. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Pfaff E., Mussgay M., Böhm H. O., Schulz G. E., Schaller H. Antibodies against a preselected peptide recognize and neutralize foot and mouth disease virus. EMBO J. 1982;1(7):869–874. doi: 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1982.tb01262.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Razin S., Jacobs E. Mycoplasma adhesion. J Gen Microbiol. 1992 Mar;138(3):407–422. doi: 10.1099/00221287-138-3-407. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Root-Bernstein R. S., Hobbs S. H. Homologies between mycoplasma adhesion peptide, CD4 and class II MHC proteins: a possible mechanism for HIV-mycoplasma synergism in AIDS. Res Immunol. 1991 Sep;142(7):519–523. doi: 10.1016/0923-2494(91)90096-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Sanger F., Nicklen S., Coulson A. R. DNA sequencing with chain-terminating inhibitors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1977 Dec;74(12):5463–5467. doi: 10.1073/pnas.74.12.5463. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Su C. J., Chavoya A., Baseman J. B. Regions of Mycoplasma pneumoniae cytadhesin P1 structural gene exist as multiple copies. Infect Immun. 1988 Dec;56(12):3157–3161. doi: 10.1128/iai.56.12.3157-3161.1988. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Su C. J., Tryon V. V., Baseman J. B. Cloning and sequence analysis of cytadhesin P1 gene from Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Infect Immun. 1987 Dec;55(12):3023–3029. doi: 10.1128/iai.55.12.3023-3029.1987. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Tham T. N., Ferris S., Kovacic R., Montagnier L., Blanchard A. Identification of Mycoplasma pirum genes involved in the salvage pathways for nucleosides. J Bacteriol. 1993 Aug;175(16):5281–5285. doi: 10.1128/jb.175.16.5281-5285.1993. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Tully J. G., Whitcomb R. F., Clark H. F., Williamson D. L. Pathogenic mycoplasmas: cultivation and vertebrate pathogenicity of a new spiroplasma. Science. 1977 Mar 4;195(4281):892–894. doi: 10.1126/science.841314. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Weisburg W. G., Tully J. G., Rose D. L., Petzel J. P., Oyaizu H., Yang D., Mandelco L., Sechrest J., Lawrence T. G., Van Etten J. A phylogenetic analysis of the mycoplasmas: basis for their classification. J Bacteriol. 1989 Dec;171(12):6455–6467. doi: 10.1128/jb.171.12.6455-6467.1989. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Bacteriology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES