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. 1978 Feb;13(2):302–311. doi: 10.1128/aac.13.2.302

Characterization of Cell Wall Polymers Secreted into the Growth Medium of Lysis-Defective Pneumococci During Treatment with Penicillin and Other Inhibitors of Cell Wall Synthesis

Regine Hakenbeck 1, Susan Waks 1, Alexander Tomasz 1
PMCID: PMC352231  PMID: 25618

Abstract

Autolysin-defective pneumococci secrete large quantities of choline-containing cell wall polymers into the growth medium during treatment with inhibitors of peptidoglycan synthesis. The secreted polymers were separated into three fractions by a combination of gel filtration on agarose and sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis. Fraction I had a high apparent molecular size and contained the Forssman antigen in complex with material exhibiting properties of cell wall teichoic acid. Choline-containing polymers of as yet uncharacterized structure were present in both fractions IIA and IIB, and fraction IIA also contained peptidoglycan components.

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Selected References

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