Insertion of fluorescent fatty acid probes into the outer membranes of the pathogenic spirochaetes Treponema pallidum and Borrelia burgdorferi

Microbiology
D L Cox, J D Radolf

Abstract

The authors examined the ability of octadecanoyl (C(18)), hexadecanoyl (C(16)) and dodecanoyl (C(12)) fatty acid (FA) conjugates of 5-aminofluorescein (OAF, HAF and DAF, respectively) to insert into the outer membranes (OMs) of Treponema pallidum, Borrelia burgdorferi and Escherichia coli. Biophysical studies have demonstrated that these compounds stably insert into phospholipid bilayers with the acyl chain within the hydrophobic interior of the apical leaflet and the hydrophilic fluorescein moiety near the phospholipid head groups. Consistent with the known poor intrinsic permeability of the E. coli OM to hydrophobic compounds and surfactants, E. coli was not labelled with any of the FA probes. OAF inserted more readily into OMs of B. burgdorferi than into those of T. pallidum, although both organisms were completely labelled at concentrations at or below 2 microg ml(-1). Intact spirochaetes were labelled with OAF but not with antibodies against known periplasmic antigens, thereby confirming that the probe interacted exclusively with the spirochaetal OMs. Separate experiments in which organisms were cooled to 4 degrees C (i.e. below the OM phase-transition temperatures) indicated that labelling with OAF was due to insertion of...Continue Reading

References

Apr 1, 1977·Infection and Immunity·N L Schiller, C D Cox
Sep 1, 1991·Journal of Clinical Microbiology·W J SimpsonT G Schwan
Mar 1, 1989·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·J D RadolfW W Schulz
Sep 1, 1989·Infection and Immunity·N R ChamberlainM V Norgard
Oct 23, 1989·FEBS Letters·J F TocanneJ F Tournier
Sep 1, 1986·The Journal of Cell Biology·M FoleyI Moore
Oct 1, 1994·Journal of Bacteriology·D R BlancoM A Lovett
Apr 1, 1994·Journal of Bacteriology·J T BelisleM V Norgard
Jun 1, 1995·Molecular Microbiology·J D Radolf
Jul 23, 1996·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·D L CoxJ D Radolf
May 29, 1998·The Journal of Clinical Investigation·D R AkinsJ D Radolf
Apr 14, 1999·Molecular Microbiology·H ChristensenM R Barer

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Feb 14, 2006·Molecular Microbiology·Ryan J Schulze, Wolfram R Zückert
Jun 16, 2010·FEMS Microbiology Letters·Anton V BryksinFelipe C Cabello
Jun 22, 2018·PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases·Verena J SchuenemannJohannes Krause
Sep 13, 2011·Journal of Bacteriology·Shiyong ChenWolfram R Zückert
Jan 4, 2003·Journal of Bacteriology·Marc B Concepcion, David R Nelson
Apr 12, 2008·Journal of the American Chemical Society·David RabukaCarolyn R Bertozzi

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.