Biochemical and Genetic Evidence for Phospholipase C Activity inMycobacterium ulcerans

Abstract
This study reports the existence of phospholipase C and D enzymatic activities inMycobacterium ulceranscultures as determined by use of thin-layer chromatography to detect diglycerides in hydrolysates of radiolabeled phosphatidylcholine.M. ulceransDNA sequences homologous to the genes encoding phospholipase C inMycobacterium tuberculosisandPseudomonas aeruginosawere identified by sequence analysis and DNA-DNA hybridization. Whether or not the phospholipase C and D enzymes ofM. ulceransplays a role in the pathogenesis of the disease needs further investigation.