Distribution of ecto 5'-nucleotidase on Mycoplasma species associated with arthritis.
The enzyme ecto 5'-nucleotidase (5'N) was found to be active on 8/14 strains of Mycoplasma fermentans, K(m) (+/-S.D.) 3.8+/-2.8 microM 5'-AMP, and on the type strain of Mycoplasma pulmonis, K(m) 0.63 microM 5'-AMP. The six M. fermentans strains lacking 5'N activity were related by restriction fragment length polymorphism typing. At pH 8.5, the type strains of Mycoplasma arthritidis, Mycoplasma buccale and Ureaplasma urealyticum showed a relatively non-specific phosphatase activity against 5'-AMP but no activity was shown by the type strains of Mycoplasma genitalium, Mycoplasma hominis, Mycoplasma orale, Mycoplasma penetrans, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Mycoplasma salivarium at this pH. M. fermentans has been reported from rheumatoid joints, which show a raised 5'N activity on their synovial cells and in their fluid which may be associated directly or indirectly with the mycoplasma.
Johnson
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Biochemistry Division, Department of Cellular and Molecular Sciences, St. George's Hospital Medical School, London, UK. sjohnson@sghms.ac.uk
Pitcher
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D015720:5'-Nucleotidase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000382:microbiology*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000145:classification / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000201:enzymology / Q000382:microbiology
D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D003208:Concanavalin A; D015720:5'-Nucleotidase