Mycoplasma arthritidis, an agent of chronic proliferative arthritis of rodents, secretes a potent soluble superantigen, MAM, that is active for both murine and human T and B lymphocytes. We now report the complete nucleotide and amino acid sequence of MAM and show it to be distinct from other proteins and not closely related phylogenetically to other superantigens. Two functional domains on MAM are identified based on the ability of peptides encompassing these regions to inhibit lymphocyte proliferation by the intact MAM molecule. One of these domains shares short sequences or epitopes with other microbial superantigens. The second domain contains the consensus legume lectin motif-beta, which is important for T cell activation by concanavalin (Con) A. MAM and Con A peptides containing this motif are functionally cross reactive, suggesting a novel secondary pathway for T cell activation by MAM.
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1 March 1996
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March 01 1996
The sequence of the Mycoplasma arthritidis superantigen, MAM: identification of functional domains and comparison with microbial superantigens and plant lectin mitogens.
B C Cole,
B C Cole
University of Utah School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Salt Lake City, 84132, USA.
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K L Knudtson,
K L Knudtson
University of Utah School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Salt Lake City, 84132, USA.
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A Oliphant,
A Oliphant
University of Utah School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Salt Lake City, 84132, USA.
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A D Sawitzke,
A D Sawitzke
University of Utah School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Salt Lake City, 84132, USA.
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A Pole,
A Pole
University of Utah School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Salt Lake City, 84132, USA.
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M Manohar,
M Manohar
University of Utah School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Salt Lake City, 84132, USA.
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L S Benson,
L S Benson
University of Utah School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Salt Lake City, 84132, USA.
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E Ahmed,
E Ahmed
University of Utah School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Salt Lake City, 84132, USA.
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C L Atkin
C L Atkin
University of Utah School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Salt Lake City, 84132, USA.
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B C Cole
University of Utah School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Salt Lake City, 84132, USA.
K L Knudtson
University of Utah School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Salt Lake City, 84132, USA.
A Oliphant
University of Utah School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Salt Lake City, 84132, USA.
A D Sawitzke
University of Utah School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Salt Lake City, 84132, USA.
A Pole
University of Utah School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Salt Lake City, 84132, USA.
M Manohar
University of Utah School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Salt Lake City, 84132, USA.
L S Benson
University of Utah School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Salt Lake City, 84132, USA.
E Ahmed
University of Utah School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Salt Lake City, 84132, USA.
C L Atkin
University of Utah School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Salt Lake City, 84132, USA.
Online ISSN: 1540-9538
Print ISSN: 0022-1007
J Exp Med (1996) 183 (3): 1105–1110.
Citation
B C Cole, K L Knudtson, A Oliphant, A D Sawitzke, A Pole, M Manohar, L S Benson, E Ahmed, C L Atkin; The sequence of the Mycoplasma arthritidis superantigen, MAM: identification of functional domains and comparison with microbial superantigens and plant lectin mitogens.. J Exp Med 1 March 1996; 183 (3): 1105–1110. doi: https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.183.3.1105
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