Protein profiles of dense-centered forms of five chlamydial strains of animal origin
Stephenson, E.H.; Storz, J.
American Journal of Veterinary Research 36(7): 881-887
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9645 PMID: 1147351 Document Number: 95533
Purified dense-centred forms of one bovine strain (LW613) and three ovine strains (B577, 034-EYE, and 047-EYE) of Chlamydia psittaci and one murine strain of C. trachomatis (MoPn) were dissociated in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and 2-mercaptoethanol. The number of polypeptides detected in the five strains varied between 17 and 20, with a molecular weight range of 29 000 to 120 000. Two polypeptides predominated and comprised approximately a third of the total protein in each of the five strains. The average molecular weights of the two polypeptides were 89 000 and 85 250 for four of the strains, and the polypeptide molecular weights were 100 000 and 98 000 for the ovine abortion strain (B 577). Molecular weights and proportional composition of the polypeptides permitted differentiation of the chlamydial strains. The three strains from naturally occurring conjunctivitis or polyarthritis (LW613, 034-EYE, and 047-EYE) had a similar polypeptide profile in the 75 000 to 100 000 molecular weight range. The polypeptides of the ovine abortion strain (B577) differed significantly from these three strains. Eight of the polypeptides of this strain had a molecular weight of 100 000 or greater, and three of the predominant polypeptides were in excess of 100 000. In contrast, some of the polypeptides of the murine strain had lower molecular weights than the four other strains. Three predominant polypeptides had molecular weights below 50 000.