title: Mycoplasma arthritidis-derived superantigen (MAM) displays DNase activity.
abstract: Bacterial superantigens are potent stimulators of the immune system. In this study, we expressed recombinant superantigens, which were then affinity purified and used for growth curves and DNase activity assays. Overexpression of Mycoplasma arthritidis-derived superantigen in Escherichia coli reduced bacterial growth. This is unique, as staphylococcal enterotoxin A and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1, expressed in the same vector system, showed no growth impairment. The observed growth inhibition was caused by the DNase activity of recombinant M. arthritidis-derived superantigen, thus describing the first superantigen showing enzymatic activity, which may be a result of the separate evolution of this toxin.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology, RWTH Aachen University, University Hospital, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Diedershagen
authors.forename: Silke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Overbeck
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arlt
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Plümäkers
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lintges
authors.forename: Lothar
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rink
mesh_terms: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000235:genetics; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism*; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000235:genetics; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D015870:Gene Expression; D045645:Mycoplasma arthritidis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D040141:Staphylococcaceae; D018089:Superantigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004768:Enterotoxins; C052996:Mycoplasma arthritidis mitogen; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D018089:Superantigens; C030107:enterotoxin F, Staphylococcal; C026066:enterotoxin A, Staphylococcal; D004247:DNA; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases