Purification and properties of two binding proteins for branched-chain amino acids in Salmonella typhimurium.

Two leucine-binding proteins isolated from osmotic shock fluid of Salmonella typhimurium LT2 were purified by DEAE-cellulose and DEAE-Sephadex A-50 chromatography, and subsequent isoelectric focusing. These purified binding proteins could be crystallized by adding 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol. One of the binding proteins, designated as LIVT-binding protein, binds L-leucine, L-isoleucine, L-valine, and L-threonine, while the other, L-binding protein, binds only L-leucine. The level of LIVT-binding protein in the shock fluid was about three-fold higher than that of L-binding protein. The molecular weight of the LIVT-binding protein was estimated to be 35,000 by gel filtration, and 39,000 by gel electrophoresis. The isoelectric point was pH 4.94. The dissociation constants of this protein for leucine, isoleucine, and valine were 0.43, 0.15, and 0.89 microM, respectively. For the L-binding protein, molecular weights of 34,000 (gel filtration), and 38,000 (gel electrophoresis) were obtained. The isoelectric point was pH 4.74. The dissociation constant of this protein for leucine was 0.54 microM. The LIVT-binding protein was more heat-stable than the L-binding protein. These two binding proteins showed an antigenic similarity, they could cross-react with each other's antiserum. This similarity was also found between the binding proteins of Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli K-12. Both LIVT- and L-binding proteins in a regulatory mutant, KA2313, were found to be about three-fold the levels in the wild-type strain.