The location of intracellular teichoic acids

Studies on the Group F Antigen of Lactobacilli: Isolation of a Teichoic Acid-Lipid Complex from Lactobacillus fermenti NCTC 6991

“…Further, P-teichoic acid, and to a lesser extent HT-teichoic acid, could be obtained virtually free of nucleic acid material (Fig. I, 2), which suggests that sedimentation of teichoic acid with the ribosomal fraction at IOO,OOO g is not, as originally proposed (Critchley et al 1962;Wicken & Baddiley, 1963), a result of artefactual complex formation between RNA and teichoic acid. An alternative possibility, supported by the association of teichoic acid with membrane lipids (vide infra), is that the degree of disaggregation of membrane on disruption of organisms may determine whether or not the teichoic acid complex is sedimented at IOO,OOO g .…”

“…The action of periodate, coupled with sodium borohydride reduction and acid hydrolysis, indicates either a I + 2 or a I -+ 6 linkage between the two sugar residues. The yellow colour produced by the periodate +Schif€'s reagent acting on the disaccharide found in the partial acid hydrolysate of glycoside I is consistent with a I + 2 linkage (Wicken & Baddiley, 1963), and the action A. J. WICKEN AND K. W. KNOX of a-galactosidase shows this linkage to have the a-configuration. Thus the evidence is consistent with glycoside I being O-a-D-galactosyl-( I -+ 2)-~-glucosyl-( I -+ I)-glycerol.…”

“…They may be isolated by extraction, with trichloracetic acid (Critchley, Archibald & Baddiley, 1962) or phenol (Burger & Glaser, 1964), of the gelatinous pellet of ribosomes and membrane fragments obtained by high-speed centrifugation of wall-free disrupted organisms. The occurrence of glycerol teichoic acids as contaminants in preparations of bacterial ribosomes (Wicken & Baddiley, 1963) and DNA (Young & Jackson, 1966) has been noted previously. A number of investigators (Hay, Wicken & Baddiley, 1963;Shattock & Smith, 1963;Shockman & Slade, 1964;Smith & Shattock 1964) have suggested that the glycerol teichoic acid which is antigenically specific for group D Streptococcus faecalis is located in or on the external surface of the protoplast membrane.…”

“…The occurrence of glycerol teichoic acids as contaminants in preparations of bacterial ribosomes (Wicken & Baddiley, 1963) and DNA (Young & Jackson, 1966) has been noted previously. A number of investigators (Hay, Wicken & Baddiley, 1963;Shattock & Smith, 1963;Shockman & Slade, 1964;Smith & Shattock 1964) have suggested that the glycerol teichoic acid which is antigenically specific for group D Streptococcus faecalis is located in or on the external surface of the protoplast membrane. These findings have led to intracellular teichoic acids being generally regarded as membrane teichoic acids (Archibald, Baddiley & Blumsom, I 968) although the chemical nature of this association remains undefined.…”

Teichoic Acids and Group Antigens in Lactobacilli

“…The term 'intracellular' is used to indicate that these teichoic acids are not in the wall but are isolated from the cell contents fraction of disrupted organisms. In a t least two cases these compounds are believed to be located between the wall and the protoplast membrane (Hay, Wicken & Baddiley, 1963).…”