Lipoteichoic acid from Streptococcus sanguis is a natural glucosyl acceptor for glucosyltransferases.
The synthesis of methanol insoluble-[14C]labeled-polymers from [14C]sucrose by S. mutans glucosyltransferases was stimulated up to four-fold by the presence of highly purified, lipoteichoic acid (LTA) from S. sanguis. Gel filtration chromatography (Sepharose 4B) and ion exchange chromatography (DEAE-Bio-Gel A) of the [14C]labeled-polymers formed in the presence of [3H]glycerol-labeled-LTA showed that high molecular weight, negatively charged [14C]labeled-[3H]glycerol-labeled-LTA complexes were being formed. The [14C]component was identified as glucose by acid hydrolysis and paper chromatography. A similar high molecular weight, negatively charged [14C]glucosyl-[3H]glycerol-labeled-polymer was extracted from S. mutans cells grown in the presence of [3H]glycerol and [14C]sucrose, suggesting that LTA is a glucosyl-acceptor for glucosyltransferases in vivo as well as in vitro.
Chiu
T H
TH
Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry, University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, PA 15261.
Baker
J J
JJ
D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D002854:Chromatography, Paper; D005936:Glucans / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006031:Glycosylation; D016695:Glycosyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D013298:Streptococcus sanguis / Q000378:metabolism*; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D013682:Teichoic Acids / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*
D005936:Glucans; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D013682:Teichoic Acids; C009900:lipoteichoic acid; D016695:Glycosyltransferases