title: Teichoic acid hydrolase activity in soil bacteria (Bacillus subtilis-sporulation-phosphodiesterase-polyamines-concanavalin A).
abstract: Bacterial phosphodiesterases have been found that are capable of cleaving the backbone of teichoic acid. Such enzymes have not been reported previously. An aerobic, gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium producing this activity was detected and isolated by autoradiography of soil suspensions growing on minimal medium containing (32)P-labeled Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6051 cell walls as the sole phosphorus source. Broken-cell preparations are capable of depolymerizing teichoic acids in media of low ionic strength at near-neutral pH values. An active teichoicase is also present in B. subtilis, ATCC 6051 (the Marburg strain), especially in sporulating cultures.
mesh_terms: D001345:Autoradiography; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D002854:Chromatography, Paper; D003470:Culture Media; D006027:Glycosides / Q000378:metabolism*; D006867:Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism*; D010756:Phosphoric Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D010759:Phosphorus Isotopes; D012987:Soil; D013682:Teichoic Acids / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D003470:Culture Media; D006027:Glycosides; D010756:Phosphoric Acids; D010759:Phosphorus Isotopes; D012987:Soil; D013682:Teichoic Acids; D006867:Hydrolases; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases