title: Properties of the gamma haemolysin of Staphylococcus aureus 'Smith 5R'.
abstract: Purified gamma haemolysin of Staphylococcus aureus was characterized in relation to the alpha, beta and delta haemolysins. The sedimentation coefficient of the gamma lysin was 2-65, somewhat higher than the S20,w values of 1-4 for freshly purified alpha lysin and 1-8 for the beta lysin. The molecular weight of gamma lysin determined by gel filtration was 45000 daltons. The pI of gamma lysin was 6-0, while that of the alpha, beta and delta lysins ranged from 8-5 to 9-6. The amino acid analysis of gamma lysin was characterized by low levels of methionine and histidine. Methionine was, however, the N-terminus, which suggested that all of the amino acid might be involved in the N-terminal group. The gamma lysin was immunologically distinct from the alpha, beta and delta lysins by quantitative precipitin tests; in Ouchterlony agar gel diffusion tests, single lines of precipitation were observed which showed no evidence of cross-reactions amongst the four haemolysins. Gamma, beta and delta lysins had no affect in mice when injected at increasing doses ranging from 0 to 100 mug. The alpha lysin killed mice, the LD50 dose being 0-60 +/- 0-12 mug, or 27 to 34 mug/kg mouse tissue. Gamma lysin was, however, lethal for guinea pigs when 50 mug quantities were injected intracradially. Gamma lysin also lysed human leucocytes and destroyed C-6 (human lymphoblast) cells.
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D007526:Isoelectric Point; D007700:Kinetics; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D051379:Mice; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D011506:Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D013045:Species Specificity; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D010743:Phospholipids; D011506:Proteins; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D004492:Edetic Acid