title: Characterization of the mitogenic activity elicited by Neisseria gonorrhoeae ribosomal fractions.
abstract: Ribosomal preparations from Neisseria gonorrhoeae types 1 and 4 were examined for their in vitro stimulation of mouse splenocytes to determine the ribosomal moiety or contaminant responsible for the immunoproliferative activity. In immunodiffusion tests with homologous rabbit antiserum, crude 70S ribosomes formed four precipitin bands while the purified 30S and 50S subunits showed one major line. The same antiserum reacted with lysed N. gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis A cells but no precipitation occurred with Escherichia coli cells purified N. gonorrhoeae lipopolysaccharide (LPS). No membrane or LPS contaminant was detected in the purified 30S and 50S preparations. All the ribosomal preparations from virulent and non-virulent N. gonorrhoeae consistently stimulated the murine splenocytes. The mitogenic activity of the 30S and 50S ribosomal preparation was destroyed by treatment with trypsin but only slightly decreased by ribonuclease. It is suggested that the lymphoproliferative response elicited by gonococcal ribosomes is triggered by the protein moiety of the 30S or 50S subunits.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008934:Mitogens; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000276:immunology; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen; D013347:Subcellular Fractions
chemical_list: D008934:Mitogens; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins