IMMUNOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON THE SPECIFIC CARBOHYDRATE OF GROUP G STREPTOCOCCI

Abstract

Group-G hemolytic streptococcal cell walls which have been treated with trypsin are composed of a group-specific polysaccharide moiety and a muco-peptide matrix. The mucopeptide contains N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylmuramic-acid, alanine, glutamic-acid, lysine and glycine; a composition similar to that of other groups of streptococci. The Group-G carbohydrate is composed of rhamnose, N-acetylgalactosamine and galactose. Serological studies suggest that the monosaccharide of L-rhamnose is a major component of the determinant of antigenic specif icity.