Open AccessMycoplasma arthritidis ‐derived superantigen (MAM) displays DNase activity
Author(s) -
Diedershagen Markus,
Overbeck Silke,
Arlt Sabine,
Plümäkers Birgit,
Lintges Maria,
Rink Lothar
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.2006.00189.x
Subject(s) - superantigen , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , enterotoxin , recombinant dna , toxic shock syndrome , escherichia coli , mycoplasma , toxin , immune system , staphylococcus aureus , bacteria , immunology , t cell , biochemistry , genetics , gene
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.