Lipoteichoic acid is the major cell wall component responsible for surface hydrophobicity of group A streptococci.
The contribution of lipoteichoic acid (LTA) to the hydrophobic surface properties of group A streptococci was investigated in aqueous dextran-polyethylene glycol two-phase systems. Enzymatic digestions were performed to characterize the hydrophobic surface structure. The results obtained indicated that LTA is a major factor responsible for the hydrophobic character of the cell surface of group A streptococci. This was further supported by the similarity of partition in polymer two-phase systems between whole group A streptococci and tritiated LTA extracted from a group A streptococcal strain. Surface LTA was also determined on intact organisms by a new method measuring the adsorption of antibodies to LTA to the bacterial surface. A correlation was found between the content of surface LTA and the hydrophobicity of the group A streptococci. We conclude that surface-associated LTA is the major factor determining surface hydrophobicity of group A streptococci.
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000032:analysis; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010587:Phagocytosis; D010712:Phosphatidic Acids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology; D012995:Solubility; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000032:analysis*; D013499:Surface Properties; D013682:Teichoic Acids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D005227:Fatty Acids; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010712:Phosphatidic Acids; D013682:Teichoic Acids; C014689:streptococcal M protein; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C009900:lipoteichoic acid