Biochemical and genetic evidence for phospholipase C activity in Mycobacterium ulcerans

This study reports the existence of phospholipase C and D enzymatic activit ies in Mycobacterium ulcerans cultures as determined by use of thin-layer c hromatography to detect diglycerides in hydrolysates of radiolabeled phosph atidylcholine. M. ulcerans DNA sequences homologous to the genes encoding p hospholipase C in Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa wer e identified by sequence analysis and DNA-DNA hybridization. Whether or not the phospholipase C and D enzymes of M. ulcerans plays a role in the patho genesis of the disease needs further investigation.