Abstract
The opalescence produced in serum by group A streptococci has been investigated. The development of opalescence is shown to be initiated by an enzyme attached to the bacterial cell which acts upon the α1-lipoprotein fraction of serum liberating the lipids from the protein. This enzyme has been termed a lipoproteinase. Evidence is presented which suggests that the degree of opalescence which develops following lipoproteinase activity is influenced not only by factors attached to the bacterial cell but also by substances present in serum. The lipoproteinase is antigenic and many human sera contain specific antibodies which inhibit the action of the enzyme.
Full Text
The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (619.2 KB).
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- BRAGDON J. H. Colorimetric determination of blood lipides. J Biol Chem. 1951 Jun;190(2):513–517. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- BROWN R. K., BOYLE E., ANFINSEN C. B. The enzymatic transformation of lipoproteins. J Biol Chem. 1953 Sep;204(1):423–434. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- KUNKEL H. G., TISELIUS A. Electrophoresis of proteins on filter paper. J Gen Physiol. 1951 Sep;35(1):89–118. doi: 10.1085/jgp.35.1.89. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- NORTON P. M., KUNZ H., PRATT E. L. Electrophoretic analysis of serum proteins in premature infants. Pediatrics. 1952 Nov;10(5):527–532. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- SCHNEIDER G., WALLENIUS G. Electrophoretic studies on cerebrospinal fluid proteins. Scand J Clin Lab Invest. 1951;3(2):145–150. doi: 10.3109/00365515109060588. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]