Non-protein components of the cell surface of Staphylococcus aureus.
1. pH-mobility curves of various laboratory strains of Staphylococcus aureus are non-sigmoid in shape, and all pass through a maximum value in the range pH4-5. 2. The maxima in the curves are not due to incomplete washing of the cells, adsorption of buffer components or irreversible surface damage. 3. Mild oxidation of the cell-surface teichoic acid with sodium metaperiodate gives cells that have typical sigmoid pH-mobility curves, characteristic of either a simple carboxyl surface or a mixed carboxyl-amino surface. 4. The results are discussed in terms of a pH-dependent change in the configuration of the teichoic acid molecules at the surface.
James
A M
AM
Department of Chemistry, Queen Elizabeth College, London, W. 8, and The Cross-Infection Reference Laboratory (Public Health Laboratory Service), Colindale Avenue, London, N.W. 9.
Brewer
J E
JE