Guanidination and nitroguanidination of staphylococcal enterotoxin B.

L Spero, H M Jacoby, J E Dalidowicz, S J Silverman

Index: Biochim. Biophys. Acta 251(3) , 345-56, (1971)

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Abstract

Guanidination of the free amino groups of staphylococcal enterotoxin B with 3,5-dimethyl-1-guanylpyrazole converted 31-32 of 33 epsilon-amino groups and 30% of the N-terminal residue. This product, although markedly reduced in solubility, suffered no gross change in conformation and retained full biological activity. A derivative prepared by reaction with O-methylisourea with only one lysyl residue unaltered lost most of its emetic activity. Nitroguanidination with 3,5-dimethyl-1-nitroguanylpyrazole converted up to 28 of the epsilon-amino groups and essentially all of the N-terminus. This material was greatly reduced in ability to produce emesis and like the O-methylisourea prepared guanidinated enterotoxin, gave only a line of partial identity in double diffusion. The loss of activity is attributed to unfolding and it is concluded that the free amino groups of enterotoxin B do not critically participate in either its antigenic determinants or its active center for emesis.