An antigen common to a wide range of bacteria. 2. A biochemical study of a "common antigen" from Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Common Antigen (CA) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been shown to be a protein composed of polypeptide subunits of a molecular weight (MW) of about 62 000. The MW of this protein was estimated to 665 000 by gel filtration on sepharose CL-6B, to 800 000 by electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gradient gels and to about 900 000 by ultracentrifugation, on a sucrose gradient. By analytical ultracentrifugation with Schlieren optics a sedimentation coefficient (S20 degrees, W) of 22.65 was calculated. The isoelectrical point was determined to pH 4.4. The antigen was decomposed on exposure to proteolytic enzymes. Polysaccharide, lipid, deoxyribonucleic acid or ribonucleic acid were not demonstrated in CA. The amino acid content of CA was determined, and no hexosamine or abnormal residues were observed. The amino acid content of CA was determined, and no hexosamine or abnormal residues were observed. The antigen was degraded when heated to 100 degrees C for 4 min or when exposed to pH below 4 or above 11 at 4 degree C. CA has been isolated from the cytoplasmic water-soluble fraction of disintegrated bacteria and only trace-amounts could be obtained from envelope fractions after solubilization with Triton X-100.