Polyacrylamide gel analysis of spiroplasmas proteins and its contribution to the taxonomy of spiroplasmas.

Representative strains of the known groups and serogroups of spiroplasmas have been compared on the basis of the results of one- and two-dimensional protein analysis on polyacrylamide gels. Each of the four subgroups of the Spiroplasma citri complex (S. citri and honeybee, corn stunt, and 277F spiroplasmas) has characteristic protein profiles and maps. Spiroplasma G1 isolated from flowers has a protein profile closely related to that of the honeybee spiroplasmas (KC3, BC3, AS576, B1707, B88, and B63). The flower spiroplasmas fall into two groups on the basis of the mole percentage (mol%) of guanine plus cytosine (G + C) of their deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) 26 and 30 mol %, respectively) and their serologic properties. The three flower spiroplasmas (OBMG, BNR1, and 23-6) with 26 mol % of G + C have the same basic protein pattern. Although some of the flower spiroplasmas with 30 mol % of G + C have closely related protein patterns, others have more distant profiles. Spiroplasmas B13 and L89, isolated from honeybees and froghoppers, respectively, had DNA with 30 mol % of G + C and could be included with other flower spiroplasmas with similar DNA base composition on the basis of their protein profiles and maps. Individual proteins separated by two-dimensional analysis on polyacrylamide gels have been used for the production of monospecific immunoglobulins, which are useful in taxonomic studies.