Existence of a new protein component with the same function as the LukF component of leukocidin or γ-hemolysin and its gene inStaphylococcus aureusP83

Staphylococcal toxins, leukocidin and gamma-hemolysin, consist of two protein components, i.e. LukF and LukS for leukocodin and H gamma I and H gamma II for gamma-hemolysin. From a culture fluid of Staphylococcus aureus strain P83, a new protein component of leukocidin or gamma-hemolysin which was designated as LukM was isolated. This component showed the same biological activity as that of LukF component for leukocidin or H gamma I component of gamma-hemolysin in combination with LukS or H gamma II. However, the LukM component cross-reacted with the anti-LukS antibodies but not with the anti-LukF antibodies. On the basis of chemical analysis of the LukM component and the cloning and nucleotide sequencing of the lukM gene of S. aureus P83, we have demonstrated that LukM is an entirely new protein component of leukocidin or gamma-hemolysin. The deduced amino acid sequence of LukM from the lukM gene showed 66.7% and 67% identity to that of LukS and H gamma II, respectively. However, the amino acid sequence of LukM and LukF showed only 29% homology.