Home
Resources
Publications
Myxobacterial Hemagglutinin: A Development-Specific Lectin of Myxococcus Xanthus

Myxobacterial Hemagglutinin: A Development-Specific Lectin of Myxococcus Xanthus

M Cumsky, D R Zusman

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1979 Nov;76(11):5505-9.

PMID: 93278

Abstract:

Fruiting body formation in the bacterium Myxococcus xanthus consists of a temporal sequence of cellular aggregation and sporulation. During the period of cellular aggregation, a major new development-specific protein that has lectin-like activity is synthesized. This protein, called myxobacterial hemagglutinin (MBHA), was able to agglutinate sheep or guinea pig erythrocytes but not horse, ox, chicken, or human erythrocytes. MBHA was undetectable in extracts of vegetative cells, cells starved in liquid buffer, or in glycerol-induced cells. However, cells starved on a fruiting medium produced large amounts of MBHA (about 5% of protein synthesis), starting at about 6-8 hr of development. The protein accumulated in the soluble fraction of cells, reaching a peak of 1-2% of total protein at about the time when aggregation was completed. At later times the amount of MBHA present in the soluble fraction declined although synthesis continued. The hemagglutinating activity of MBHA could not be inhibited with simple sugars or aminosugars but could be inhibited with fetuin, a fetal calf serum glycoprotein. The O-glycosidically linked trisaccharide glycopeptide of fetuin was shown to be inhibitory by itself. The penultimate galactose of this glycopeptide was directly implicated in the inhibitory activity, because the inhibition by asialofetuin was reduced to 1/60th by periodate oxidation and to 1/15th after beta-galactosidase treatment. MBHA is an abundant biochemical marker of development in M. xanthus. The fact that it is a lectin suggests that it may play a role in cell-cell recognition or agglutination.

Chemicals Related in the Paper:

Catalog Number	Product Name	Structure	CAS Number	Price
IAR42415064	Asialofetuin from fetal calf serum			Price

As a specialist in analytical chemical Products, Alfa Chemistry offers consumers a wealth of raw materials and a full range of technologies and services.

QUICK LINKS

HEADQUARTERS

Tel:

Fax:

Email: