The glycerol teichoic acid from walls of Staphylococcus epidermidis I2

Abstract

1. Walls of Staphylococcus epidermidis I2 contain 30% (w/w) of a glycerol teichoic acid containing phosphate, d-alanine and d-glucose in the molecular proportions 1:0·25:0·50. 2. The teichoic acid was isolated by extraction with trichloroacetic acid and with dilute aqueous NN-dimethylhydrazine at pH7, and was shown to be a (1→3)-linked poly(glycerol phosphate) containing β-d-glucopyranosyl and d-alanyl ester substituents. 3. 2-O-β-d-Glucopyranosylglycerol was isolated and characterized as its crystalline hexa-O-acetate. 4. Unlike that of certain other bacteria, the peptidoglycan component of the wall is not solubilized by NN-dimethylhydrazine. 5. The membrane teichoic acid is also a (1→3)-linked poly(glycerol phosphate) but contains a smaller proportion of glucosyl substituents.