LIPOTEICHOIC ACID FROM STREPTOCOCCUS-SANGUIS IS A NATURAL GLUCOSYL ACCEPTOR FOR GLUCOSYLTRANSFERASES

The synthesis of methanol insoluble-[C-14]labeled-polymers from [C-14]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 [C-14]labeled-polymers formed in the presence of [H-3]glycerol-labeled-LTA showed that high molecular weight, negatively charged [C-14]labeled-[H-3]glycerol-labeled-LTA complexes were being formed. The [C-14]component was identified as glucose by acid hydrolysis and paper chromatography. A similar high molecular weight, negatively charged [C-14]glucosyl-[H-3]glycerol-labeled-polymer was extracted from S. mutans cells grown in the presence of [H-3]glycerol and [C-14]sucrose, suggesting that LTA is a glucosyl-acceptor for glucosyltransferases in vivo as well as in vitro. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.