title: Molecular characterization of the P1-like adhesin gene from Mycoplasma pirum.
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.
authors.affiliation: Departement du SIDA et des Rétrovirus, Oncologie Virale, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
authors.forename: T N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Tham
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferris
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bahraoui
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Canarelli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Montagnier
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blanchard
mesh_terms: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D005798:Genes, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000235:genetics*; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; C085653:adhesin, Mycoplasma pirum