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Membranes of the protoplast L-form of Proteus mirabilis.

Isolated membranes of the cell wall-less stable protoplast L-form of Proteus mirabilis were characterized by density gradient centrifugation and by assay for their major chemical constituents, proteins, phospholipids and lipopolysacchartide, and for some specific marker enzymes of the cytoplasmic membrane. In most of the analyzed properties the L-form protoplast membrane resembled the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane, with some notable modifications. Considerable amounts of lipopolysaccharide, normally an exclusive constituent of the outer membrane, were found. Furthermore, the L-form membranes contained the functions of the reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide oxidase system, of D-lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.28) and of succinate dehydrogenase (EC 1.3.99.1) at specific activities comparable to, or in some cases considerably higher than, those present in cytoplasmic membranes of the bacterial form. Of two peptidoglycan DD-carboxypeptidase/transpeptidases (EC 3.4.17.8 and EC 2.3.2.10). which are normally present in the cytoplasmic membrane of the bacterial form of P. mirabilis, the membrane of the protoplast L-form contained only one. Electron microscopy of thin sectioned L-form protoplasts showed extensive heterogeneity of membraneous structures. In addition to the single membraneous integument, internal membrane-bounded vesicles and multiple stacks of membranes were present, as the result of unbalanced growth and membrane synthesis in the L-form state.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Expression of Klebsiella his and nif genes in Serratia marcescens, Erwinia herbicola and Proteus mirabilis.

Plasmid pRD1, an R plasmid of the P incompatibility group which carries his and nif genes from Klebsiella pneumoniae in addition to drug resistance markers derived from RP4, was transferred to His- mutants of Serratia marcescens, Erwinia herbicola and Proteus mirabilis. His+ transconjugants were obtained at low but different frequencies according to recipient genus. Transconjugants all acquired the drug resistance, and were Nif+ in S. marcescens and E. herbicola, having acetylene-reducing activities of the same order of magnitude as the parent K. pneumoniae and fixing 15N2. No evidence for nif expression in P. mirabilis transconjugants was obtained though the nif genes were present.

Conjugation, Genetic↗

Expression and stability of Escherichia coli F-prime factors in Proteus mirabilis.

The expression and stability of Escherichia coli F-primes in Proteus mirabilis is examined. It is possible to consecutively introduce, and stably maintain, the DNA of several E. coli F-primes in P. mirabilis in the absence of selective pressure for all or some of the plasmids. Additionally, we can recover more than one F-prime from certain P. mirabilis recipient strains which carry DNA derived from several independent matings with E. coli F-prime donors.

Conjugation, Genetic↗

Reduction of tetrathionate, trithionate and thiosulphate, and oxidation of sulphide in proteus mirabilis.

The reductase catalyzing the reduction of tetrathionate and thiosulphate in Proteus mirabilis is also concerned with the reduction of trithionate and the oxidation of sulphide. Tetrathionate is reduced to thiosulphate, thiosulphate to sulphite and sulphide, and trithionate is reduced to thiosulphate plus sulphite. The oxidation of sulphide in cell-free extracts proceeds most likely to polysulphanes or to elemental sulphur, depending on the conditions. The kinetics of the reduction of tetrathionate imply a simultaneous interaction of tetrathionate and thiosulphate on the reductase molecule. The reduction of tetrathionate is activated by thiosulphate causing a non-linear progress of this reaction. On the other hand the reduction of thiosulphate is completely blocked until tetrathionate has been depleted. The order of reduction in a mixture of thiosulphate and trithionate is imputed by the enzymatic constants of the reductase for both substrates. Therefore in cell-free extracts thiosulphate is reduced prior to trithionate and afterwards, when thiosulphate has been exhausted, trithionate and the produced thiosulphate are reduced simultaneously. Fast growing cells, however, reduce trithionate first since their intracellular redox potential is insufficiently low to permit the reduction of any thiosulphate.

Cell Membrane↗

Ammonium assimilation in Proteus vulgaris, Bacillus pasteurii, and Sporosarcina ureae.

No active uptake of ammonium was detected in Proteus vulgaris, Bacillus pasteurii, and Sporosarcina ureae, which indicates that these bacteria depend on the passive diffusion of ammonia across the cell membrane. In P. vulgaris the glutamine synthetase-glutamate synthase (GS-GOGAT) pathway and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) were present, and these enzymes exhibited high affinities for ammonium. In B. pasteurii and S. ureae, however, no GS activity was detected, and GOGAT activity was only present in S. ureae. GDH enzymes were present in these two organisms, but showed only low affinity for ammonium, with apparent Km-values of 55.2 mM in B. pasteurii and 36.7 mM in S. ureae, respectively. These observations explain why P. vulgaris is able to grow at neutral pH and low ammonium concentration (2 mM), while B. pasteurii and S. ureae require high ammonium concentration (40 mM) and alkaline pH for growth.

Alcaligenes↗

Molybdenum cofactor from the cytoplasmic membrane of Proteus mirabilis.

Molybdenum cofactor was extracted from membranes of Proteus mirabilis by three methods: acidification, heat treatment and heat treatment in the presence of sodium-dodecylsulphate (SDS). Extracts prepared by the latter method contained the highest concentration of molybdenum cofactor. In these extracts molybdenum cofactor was present in a low molecular weight form. It could not penetrate an YM-2 membrane during ultrafiltration suggesting a molecular weight above 1000. During aerobic incubation of cofactor extracts from membranes at least four fluorescent species were formed as observed in a reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system. The species in the first peak was inhomogeneous while the species in the others seem to be homogeneous. In water, all fluorescent products had an excitation maximum at 380 nm and an emission maximum at 455 nm. Their absorption spectra showed maxima at around 270 nm and 400 nm. Fluorescent compounds present in the first peak could penetrate an YM-2 membrane during ultrafiltration, whereas the compounds in the other peaks hardly did. Using xanthine oxidase from milk as source of molybdenum cofactor apparently identical cofactor species were found. Cytoplasmic nor membrane extracts of the chlorate resistant mutant chl S 556 of P. mirabilis could complement nitrate reductase of Neurospora crassa nit-1 in the presence of 20 mM molybdate. However, fluorescent species with identical properties as found for the wild-type were formed during aerobic incubation of extracts from membranes of this mutant.

Cell Membrane↗

Properties of plasmids constructed by the in vitro insertion of DNA from Rhizobium leguminosarum or Proteus mirabilis into RP4.

Plasmids have been constructed by insertion of DNA from Rhizobium leguminosarum or Proteus mirabilis into RP4 (an R factor of group P). Such recombinant plasmids retain the wide host range of the parental plasmid, being as efficiently transmissible as the unmodified RP4 and are stably maintained in rapidly growing cultures. The recombinant plasmids, even though each contained a DNA sequence absolutely identical with that of the host strain, are no more efficient at mobilizing the transfer of chromosomal genetic information from that host strain than was unmodified RP4. We therefore conclude that an unknown factor must be essential in the process of chromosome mobilization and rate limiting for that process.

Ampicillin↗

DNA sequence analysis of the recA genes from Proteus vulgaris, Erwinia carotovora, Shigella flexneri and Escherichia coli B/r.

The complete nucleotide sequences of the recA genes from Escherichia coli B/r, Shigella flexneri, Erwinia carotovora and Proteus vulgaris were determined. The DNA sequence of the coding region of the E. coli B/r gene contained a single nucleotide change compared with the E. coli K12 gene sequence whereas the S. flexneri gene differed at 7 residues. In both cases, the predicted proteins were identical in primary structure to the E. coli K12 RecA protein. The DNA sequences of the recA genes from E. carotovora and P. vulgaris were 80% and 74% homologous, respectively, to the E. coli K12 gene. The predicted amino acid sequences of the E. carotovora and P. vulgaris RecA proteins were 91% and 85% identical respectively, to that of E. coli K12. The RecA proteins from both P. vulgaris and E. carotovora diverged significantly in sequence in the last 50 residues whereas they showed striking conservation throughout the first 300 amino acids which include an ATP-binding region and a subunit interaction domain. A putative LexA repressor binding site was localized upstream of each of the heterologous genes.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Covalent linkage of lipoprotein to peptidoglycan is not essential for outer membrane stability in Proteus mirabilis.

Isolated rigis layers from Proteus mirabilis harvested at different growth phases were degraded by endo-N-acetylmuramidase from Chalaropsis B, and the degradation products were investigated. The results show the complete absence of covalently linked lipoprotein in exponential-phase cultures. Stationary cells, however, possess covalently linked lipoprotein in amounts similar to those found in Escherichia coli or Salmonella typhimurium during all growth phases. The overall peptidoglycan structure did not change during transition from logarithmic to stationary growth. Implications of these findings for the organization of the outer membrane are discussed.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Fumarate reduction in Proteus mirabilis.

1. Proteus mirabilis formed fumarate reductase under anaerobic growth conditions. The formation of this reductase was repressed under conditions of growth during which electron transport to oxygen or to nitrate is possible. In two of three tested chlorate-resistant mutant strains of the wild type, fumarate reductase appeared to be affected. 2. Cytoplasmic membrane suspensions isolated from anaerobically grown P. mirabilis oxidized formate and NADH with oxygen and with fumarate, too. 3. Spectral investigation of the cytoplasmic membrane preparation revealed the presence of (probably at least two types of) cytochrome b, cytochrome a1 and cytochrome d. Cytochrome b was reduced by NADH as well as by formate to approximately 80%. 4. 2-n-Heptyl-4-hydroxyquinilone-N-oxide and antimycin A inhibited oxidation of both formate and NADH by oxygen and fumarate. Both inhibitors increased the level of the formate/oxygen steady state and the formate/fumarate steady state. 5. The site of inhibition of the respiratory activity by both HQNO and antimycin A was located at the oxidation side of cytochrome b. 6. The effect of ultraviolet-irradiation of cytoplasmic membrane suspensions on oxidation/reduction phenomena suggested that the role of menaquinone is more exclusive in the formate/fumarate pathway than in the electron transport route to oxygen. 7. Finally, the conclusion has been drawn that the preferential route for electron transport from formate and from NADH to fumarate (and to oxygen) includes cytochrome b as a directly involved carrier. A hypothetical scheme for the electron transport in anaerobically grown P. mirabilis is presented.

Anaerobiosis↗

Expression of Klebsiella pneumoniae nif genes in Proteus mirabilis.

Self-transmissible plasmids carrying his and nif genes from Klebsiella pneumoniae have been introduced into three his mutants of Proteus mirabilis: strains 5006-1, WR19 and WR20. Expression of his by the transconjugants was unequivocal, if slightly temperature-sensitive, but none was Nif+ when tested for acetylene reduction in anaerobic glucose medium using inocula from rich or glucose-minimal aerobic agar cultures. Succinate or pyruvate in place of glucose, low glucose, lower temperature or elevated Na2MoO4 did not allow nif expression and no nitrogenase MoFe-protein peptide was detected immunologically after exposure to conditions in which diazotrophic enterobacteria, normal or genetically constructed, derepress nif. One strain, P. mirabilis WR19, carrying the his nif Kmr plasmid pMF250 was examined in detail. The nif activator gene nifA was introduced on the plasmid pCK1. Such derivatives remained Nif- when tested, after aerobic growth on rich agar media, with normal or low glucose, with succinate or with elevated Mo. However, pre-conditioning by aerobic growth on glucose-minimal agar led to subsequent anaerobic expression of nif in glucose medium from pMF250 in WR19 carrying pCK1. NH+4 or proline could serve as N-source in the glucose-minimal agar. Maximum activity was about 5% of that of K. pneumoniae in our assay conditions. Material cross-reacting with anti-serum to the nitrogenase MoFe protein was formed. Nitrogenase activity was not 'switched off' by NH+4. P. mirabilis WR19 (pCK1) showed NH+4-constitutive temperature-sensitive kanamycin resistance (a nif-related phenotype of this plasmid) in aerobic glucose minimal medium.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ammonia↗

Comparative in vitro activities of amoxicillin-clavulanate, ampicillin-sulbactam and piperacillin-tazobactam against strains of Escherichia coli and proteus mirabilis harbouring known beta-lactamases.

Strains of Escherichia coli (N = 124) and Proteus mirabilis (N = 29) harboring known beta-lactamases were analyzed as to their susceptibility to ampicillin, amoxicillin, and piperacillin alone and in combination with sulbactam, clavulanate, and tazobactam. With TEM 1-producing E. coli, a correlation between specific beta-lactamase activity and the MIC of piperacillin and ampicillin-sulbactam was observed. These strains also showed significant differences in susceptibilities to the various combinations, suggesting that, at least in strains resistant to one combination, several beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations should be tested in the laboratory. All combinations tested enhanced the activity of the beta-lactam towards TEM 1-producing E. coli, piperacillin-tazobactam being the most active. The drugs were less active to OXA 1 enzymes; solely with piperacillin-tazobactam 90% of strains were within the therapeutic range of the drug. Sulbactam acted synergistically to chromosomally encoded beta-lactamases, whereas amoxicillin-clavulanate was inactive. Piperacillin and piperacillin-tazobactam inhibited all strains producing chromosomally encoded beta-lactamases at concentrations within the therapeutic range of the drugs. In contrast, TEM 2 of P. mirabilis was not sensitive to ampicillin-sulbactam, but to the other combinations; here again piperacillin-tazobactam was the most active.

Amoxicillin↗

Analysis of antibiotic resistance determinants in Proteus penneri.

The plasmid profiles of 65 strains of Proteus penneri were analyzed to determine whether resistance was determined chromosomally or by plasmids. Only seven strains harboured one to three plasmids, although these strains exhibited resistance to a wide range of antibiotics. Markers for ampicillin and tetracycline resistance could be transferred to Escherichia coli by transformation. Plasmids carried resistance to chloramphenicol in two strains and resistance to sulfonamides in one strain. The result showed that resistance is determined chromosomally rather than by plasmids, however the possibility that these bacteria may acquire resistance plasmids which change their antibiotic susceptibility pattern cannot be excluded.

Chloramphenicol Resistance↗

0 antigen distribution and sensitivity to the bactericidal effect of normal human serum of Proteus strains from clinical specimens.

9 antigen distribution and sensitivity to the bactericidal effect of normal human serum were determined in 485 Proteus strains isolated from urine, blood, wounds, and feces. Of all strains, 62% could be grouped according to 25 0 antigens. The most frequent one, 0 3, appeared in 13% of all the strains. In blood cultures this antigen was found significantly more often. No other 0 group dominated. Of all strains, 11% were spontaneously agglutinating but such strains were significantly more common in urinary specimens from children with neurogenic bladder disorders. Strains sensitive to the bactericidal effect of normal human serum were significantly more prevalent in urines than in fecal specimens. Most of the sensitive strains were spontaneously agglutinating and were isolated from the urines of children with neurogenic bladder disorders. This may be an example of 'antigenic drift' of the bacteria as a response to host defense mechanisms in the urinary tract.

Antigens, Bacterial↗

Plant growth promotion and fungicidal activity in a siderophore-producing strain of Proteus sp.

A proteus strain inhibited mycelial growth of Fusarium oxysporum in vitro. Seed bacterization showed significant plant growth promotion and Fusarium-wilt suppression activity of Phaseolus mungo in a gnotobiotic system. The culture filtrate of this strain exhibited three prominent bands in UV-VIS spectra between 300 and 400 nm. The growth promotion assay of the extracted compound against different indicator organisms indicated the production of a compound related to a 2-oxoacid-type siderophore. The HPLC of the purified ethyl acetate extract of the strains and standard 4-methyl-2-oxopentanoate (2-oxoisocaproate) revealed a single peak, similarly as the coinjection of the extract and the standard. The production of siderophore, probably 2-oxoisocaproate, was demonstrated.

Antifungal Agents↗

The Serratia marcescens hemolysin is secreted but not activated by stable protoplast-type L-forms of Proteus mirabilis.

The outer-membrane protein ShlB of Serratia marcescens activates and secretes hemolytic ShlA into the culture medium. Without ShlB, inactive ShlA (termed ShlA*) remains in the periplasm. Since Proteus mirabilis L-form cells lack an outer membrane and a periplasm, it was of interest to determine in which compartment recombinant ShlA* and ShlB are localized and whether ShlB activates ShlA*. The cloned shlB and shlA genes were transcribed in P. mirabilis stable L-form cells by the temperature-inducible phage T7 RNA polymerase. Radiolabeling, Western blotting, and complementation with C-terminally truncated ShlA (ShlA255) identified inactive ShlA* in the culture supernatant. ShlB remained cell-bound and did not activate ShlA without integration in an outer membrane. Although hemolytic ShlA added to L-form cells had access to the cytoplasmic membrane, it did not affect L-form cells. Synthesis of the large ShlA protein (165 kDa) in P. mirabilis L-form cells under phage T7 promoter control demonstrates that L-form cells are suitable for the synthesis and secretion of large recombinant proteins. This property and the easy isolation of released proteins make L-form cells suitable for the biotechnological production of proteins.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins↗