THE CHLAMYDIA-TRACHOMATIS MIP-LIKE PROTEIN IS A LIPOPROTEIN

The Mip-like protein of Chlamydia trachomatis is similar to the Mip pr otein of Legionella pneumophila and may be equally important for the i nitiation of intracellular infection. This article presents data which identify the chlamydial Mip-like protein as a lipoprotein. The amino acid sequence of the Mip-like protein contains a signal peptidase II r ecognition sequence, as is seen in procaryotic lipoproteins. Palmitic acid was incorporated into the recombinant chlamydial Mip-like protein . Globomycin, known to inhibit signal peptidase II, inhibited processi ng of the recombinant Mip-like protein. Labelling of chlamydial organi sms with palmitic acid revealed incorporation into the native Mip-like protein.