Isolation and immunological characterization of a unique toxic cytoplasmic polymer of type 1 Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Abstract

Cytoplasms of types 1 and 4 of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, passed through 0.2-micron (μ) membrane filters, were resolved on Sephadex G-200 columns, followed by repeated isoelectric focusing of peak-zone materials. By each method and by disc electrophoresis, it was found that the type 1 cytoplasm contained one extra component (β). The partly purified, unique biopolymer of type 1 cytoplasm proved to be four times more toxic for chick embryos than was another toxic material found in both cytoplasms. The β compound was identified as a protein that had no immunological counterpart among the remaining cytoplasmic components.