A single protein of 110 kDa is associated with the multinucleating and necrotizing activity coded by the Vir plasmid of Escherichia coli.
A lethal and necrotic factor which causes cell multinucleation in HeLa cell cultures has previously been shown to be coded by the Vir plasmid of Escherichia coli. Using an absorbed rabbit antiserum which neutralized the Vir toxic properties, we have compared the SDS-PAGE immunoblots from laboratory and field strains which either produce or do not produce Vir toxicity. A single band of 110 kDa was found to be specifically associated with vir toxicity in E. coli strains. This antiserum also recognized the 115 kDa protein band which was previously identified as the cytotoxic necretozing factor (CNF) of certain E. coli strains. These results suggest that the toxin coded by the Vir plasmid is a protein of 110 kDa distinct from, but immunologically related to CNF.
Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Station de Pathologie de la Reproduction, Nouzilly, France.
E
E
Oswald
J
J
De Rycke
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D007106:Immune Sera; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010957:Plasmids
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D003603:Cytotoxins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D007106:Immune Sera; C060296:cytotoxic necrotizing factor type 1