ISSN:
1574-6968
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Sulfolipid-I (SL-I) is a specific Mycobacterium tuberculosis glycolipid that has been involved in the mechanisms of tuberculoid infection. Until now, a limited number of M. tuberculosis strains have been studied to ascertain their SL-I content, mainly due to the laborious techniques of purification used: DEAE-cellulose column chromatography (DEAE) or extensive solvent extractions. We designed a two-dimensional thin layer chromatographic (2D-TLC) system which allows the easy and reliable detection of SL-I in small amounts of M. tuberculosis-free glycolipid extracts without previous purification. A characteristic SL-I signal was clearly identified by a differential cresyl violet metachromatic stain. Seven clinical isolates, M. tuberculosis H37Ra, H37Rv and Canetti strains were tested by DEAE and the 2D-TLC system. Identical results were found using both methodologies. The 2D-TLC methodology devised could be applied to a large number of strains to ascertain easily the distribution of SL-I in the strains of M. tuberculosis species.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1574-6968.2000.tb09144.x
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