The Escherichia coli genome encodes at least 29 putative signal peptides containing a twin arginine motif characteristic of proteins exported via the twin arginine translocation (Tat) pathway. Fusions of the putative Tat signal peptides plus six to eight amino acids of the mature proteins to three reporter proteins (short-lived green fluorescent protein, maltose-binding protein (MBP), and alkaline phosphatase) and also data from the cell localization of epitope-tagged full-length proteins were employed to determine the ability of the 29 signal peptides to direct export through the Tat pathway, through the general secretory pathway (Sec), or through both. 27/29 putative signal peptides could export one or more reporter proteins through Tat. Of these, 11 signal peptides displayed Tat specificity in that they could not direct the export of Sec-only reporter proteins. The rest (16/27) were promiscuous and were capable of directing export of the appropriate reporter either via Tat (green fluorescent protein, MBP) or via Sec (PhoA, MBP). Mutations that conferred a >؉1 charge to the N terminus of the mature protein abolished or drastically reduced routing through the Sec pathway without affecting the ability to export via the Tat pathway. These experiments demonstrate that the charge of the mature protein N terminus affects export promiscuity, independent of the effect of the folding state of the mature protein.

Uronate dehydrogenase has been cloned from Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato strain DC3000, Pseudomonas putida KT2440, and Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain C58. The genes were identified by using a novel complementation assay employing an Escherichia coli mutant incapable of consuming glucuronate as the sole carbon source but capable of growth on glucarate. A shotgun library of P. syringae was screened in the mutant E. coli by growing transformed cells on minimal medium containing glucuronic acid. Colonies that survived were evaluated for uronate dehydrogenase, which is capable of converting glucuronic acid to glucaric acid. In this manner, a 0.8-kb open reading frame was identified and subsequently verified to be udh. Homologous enzymes in P. putida and A. tumefaciens were identified based on a similarity search of the sequenced genomes. Recombinant proteins from each of the three organisms expressed in E. coli were purified and characterized. For all three enzymes, the turnover number (k cat ) with glucuronate as a substrate was higher than that with galacturonate; however, the Michaelis constant (K m ) for galacturonate was lower than that for glucuronate. The A. tumefaciens enzyme was found to have the highest rate constant (k cat ‫؍‬ 1.9 ؋ 10 2 s ؊1 on glucuronate), which was more than twofold higher than those of both of the pseudomonad enzymes.

Rationale: Mycoplasma pneumoniae was recently discovered to produce an ADP-ribosylating and vacuolating cytotoxin, designated CARDS toxin, which is hypothesized to be a primary pathogenic mechanism responsible for M. pneumoniae-induced pulmonary inflammation. It is unknown if cytotoxin production varies with M. pneumoniae strain or if variation in cytotoxin production affects pulmonary disease severity. Objectives: To examine the production of CARDS toxin by various strains of M. pneumoniae and compare the disease manifestations elicited by these strains in an experimental model of M. pneumoniae respiratory infection. Methods: BALB/c mice were inoculated once intranasally with SP4 broth (negative control) or three different M. pneumoniae strains: M129-B7, M129-B9, or S1. Mice were assessed at 1, 2, 4, 7, 10, and 14 days after inoculation. Outcome variables included comparisons among M. pneumoniae strains relative to bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) M. pneumoniae quantitative culture, CARDS toxin-based PCR, and CARDS toxin protein determinations, as well as cytokine and chemokine concentrations. Graded lung histopathologic score (HPS) was also assessed. Measurements and Main Results: CARDS toxin concentrations were significantly increased in mice inoculated with strain S1 compared with mice inoculated with M129-B7 or M129-B9 strains. Quantitative M. pneumoniae culture and polymerase chain reaction were also significantly greater in mice infected with S1 strain compared with the other two strains, as were lung HPS and concentrations of IFN-g, IL-12, IL-1a, macrophage inflammatory protein-1a, and keratinocytederived chemokine. In addition, a significant positive correlation was found between CARDS toxin concentration and lung HPS. Conclusions: CARDS toxin concentrations in BAL are directly linked to the ability of specific M. pneumoniae strains to colonize, replicate, and persist, and elicit lung histopathology. This variation among strains may predict the range in severity of pulmonary disease observed among patients.Keywords: Mycoplasma pneumoniae; toxin; pneumonia; asthma; ADPribosylating Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common respiratory bacterial pathogen that affects both the upper and lower respiratory tracts of children and adults (1-9). More recent data demonstrate an association between M. pneumoniae respiratory infection and reactive airway disease and asthma (10-15). Although M. pneumoniae has been recognized as a significant clinical pathogen for decades, its virulence determinants have only been partially deciphered. M. pneumoniae is believed to primarily act as an extracellular parasite, with its pathogenicity dependent on its attachment to respiratory epithelium and subsequent initiation of injury to the host. Much investigation has been directed at understanding the mechanisms responsible for the essential process of extracellular attachment (16)(17)(18)(19). In addition, M. pneumoniae has been reported to possess invasive and intracellular survival capabilities. However, the microbial factors responsible f...

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