Affinity and response of Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia cepacia to insulin.

ABSTRACT

The cells of Burkholderia pseudomallei, B. cepacia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa grown on agar plates were stained with fluorescently-labeled insulin. The former two species were stained positively indicating insulin binding but P. aeruginosa was not. Insulin exposure reduced phospholipase C and acid phosphatase activities of B. pseudomallei but did not affect those enzymatic activities of B. cepacia in the employed experimental conditions. It is suggested that B. pseudomallei have insulin receptors which may be associated with a signal transfer system involving phospholipase and protein tyrosine phosphatase.