title: Peptidoglycan of free-living anaerobic spirochetes.
abstract: Electron microscope examination of negatively stained or thin-sectioned cells of Spirochaeta stenostrepta treated with penicillin or lysozyme showed that the peptidoglycan was present as a thin, electron-dense layer adjacent and external to the cytoplasmic membrane. The peptidoglycan was isolated from cells of S. stenostrepta and Spirochaeta litoralis by a procedure including treatments with sodium lauryl sulfate and Pronase. Hydrolysates of the isolated S. stenostrepta and S. litoralis peptidoglycans contained glucosamine, muramic acid, glutamic acid, l-ornithine, and alanine in molar ratios of 0.90:0.85:1.00:1.00:1.40 and of 0.63:0.63:0.99:1.00:1.41, respectively. Determination of N-terminal residues suggested that nearly 50% of the ornithine in S. stenostrepta and S. litoralis peptidoglycans was involved in peptide cross-linkage. The peptidoglycan layer of S. stenostrepta was sensitive to lysozyme and myxobacter AL-1 protease.
mesh_terms: D000409:Alanine / Q000032:analysis; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000032:analysis; D002854:Chromatography, Paper; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D003840:Deoxycholic Acid; D005944:Glucosamine / Q000032:analysis; D005971:Glutamates / Q000032:analysis; D006868:Hydrolysis; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009112:Muramic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D009113:Muramidase; D009952:Ornithine / Q000032:analysis; D010400:Penicillin G; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases; D010457:Peptidoglycan / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011402:Pronase; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; D013142:Spirochaeta / Q000032:analysis / Q000166:cytology*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013237:Stereoisomerism
chemical_list: D005971:Glutamates; D009112:Muramic Acids; D010457:Peptidoglycan; D003840:Deoxycholic Acid; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; D009952:Ornithine; D009113:Muramidase; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases; D011402:Pronase; D005944:Glucosamine; D000409:Alanine; D010400:Penicillin G