The Fatty Acid Content of the Bordetella pertussis Endotoxin

Abstract

The fatty acid content of Bordetella pertussis endotoxin has been estimated by several methods. Expressed as 3-hydroxytetradecanoic acid, it was 0.74 mumol (mg lyophilized material)-1, 0.38 mumol being ester-bound, and 0.32 mumol in amide linkage. Reported molar ratios of ester-bound to amide-bound fatty acids in endotoxins of various bacterial species range from 2.4 to 2 in B. pertussis, to 5 to 2 in Salmonella minnesota; according to these figures large differences must exist in the degree of substitution, and the substitution pattern of the glucosaminyl-beta-1,6-glucosamine unit present in the hydrophobic region of endotoxins. When fatty acids, released by acid and alkaline hydrolyses of the B. pertussis endotoxin, were extracted into chloroform, unidentified chromogenic substances appearing in the extract interfered with their colorimetric estimation; no interference was observed when hexane was used instead of chloroform.

Use of cyclodextrin as an agent to induce excretion of Bordetella pertussis antigens

“…This hypothesis is in accordance with the observation that cyclodextrin forms inclusion complexes with hydrophobic compounds, such as fatty acids [8,9]. Since the lipopolysaccharide contains several fatty acids [25], Me/3CD may interact with this component of outer membrane.…”