Distribution of ecto 5 '-nucleotidase on Mycoplasma species associated with arthritis

The enzyme ecto 5'-nucleotidase (5'N) was found to be active on 8/14 strain s of Mycoplasma fermentans, K-m (+/- S.D.) 3.8 +/- 2.8 muM 5'-AMP, and on t he type strain of Mycoplasma pulmonis, K-m 0.63 muM 5'-AMP. The six M. ferm entans strains lacking 5'N activity were related by restriction fragment le ngth polymorphism typing. At pH 8.5, the type strains of Mycoplasma arthrit idis, Mycoplasma buccale and Ureaplasma urealyticum showed a relatively non -specific phosphatase activity against 5'-AMP but no activity was shown by the type strains of Mycoplasma genitalium, Mycoplasma hominis, Mycoplasma o rale, Mycoplasma penetrans, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Mycoplasma salivarium at this pH. M. fermentans has been reported from rheumatoid joints, which show a raised 5'N activity on their synovial cells and in their fluid which may be associated directly or indirectly with the mycoplasma. (C) 2000 Fed eration of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier Scienc e B.V. All rights reserved.