title: Sulfur-binding protein of flagella of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans.
abstract: The sulfur-binding protein of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans ATCC 23270 was investigated. The protein composition of the bacterium's cell surface changed according to the culture substrate. Sulfur-grown cells showed greater adhesion to sulfur than iron-grown cells. The sulfur-grown cells synthesized a 40-kDa surface protein which was not synthesized by iron-grown cells. The 40-kDa protein had thiol groups and strongly adhered to elemental sulfur powder. This adhesion was not disturbed by Triton X-100, which can quench hydrophobic interactions. However, adhesion was disturbed by 2-mercaptoethanol, which broke the disulfide bond. The thiol groups of the 40-kDa protein formed a disulfide bond with elemental sulfur and mediated the strong adhesion between T. ferrooxidans cells and elemental sulfur. The 40-kDa protein was located on the flagella. The location of the protein would make it possible for cells to be in closer contact with the surface of elemental sulfur powder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Abiko Research Laboratory, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, Chiba, Japan. ohmura@criepi.denken.or.jp
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ohmura
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsugita
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Koizumi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saika
mesh_terms: D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002246:Carbon Disulfide; D002451:Cell Compartmentation; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry; D005407:Flagella / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012995:Solubility; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013455:Sulfur / Q000378:metabolism*; D013855:Thiobacillus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D013455:Sulfur; D007501:Iron; D002246:Carbon Disulfide