Immunochemical and chemical studies on streptococcal group-specific carbohydrates.

Structural studies on the carbohydrates of Groups A, C, and A-variant (AV) streptococci have utilized periodate oxidation, permethylation analysis, and immunochemical comparison of intact and periodate-oxidized polysaccharides. The data indicate that a similar 1,2- and 1,3-linked rhamnose chain is present in both the A and AV carbohydrates. The group A carbohydrate contains in addition N-acetylglucosamine residues at nonreducing terminals, whereas the AV is a homopolymer of rhamnose. There is some evidence that Group Ccarbohydrate contains the same rhamnose chain, but structural comparisons to the A and AV carbohydrates are complicated by the presence of intrachain N-acetylgalactosamine residues. Periodate oxidation and permethylation analysis show that while approximately 50% of the N-acetylgalactosamine of the Group C carbohydrate occupies terminal positions, the remainder is present as 1,3-linked units. Removal of the nonreducing terminal hexosamine units from the Group A carbohydrate by periodate treatment significantly enhanced its cross-reactivity with AV antiserum, whereas no enhancement was observed after similar treatment of the Group C carbohydrate. The data indicate the presence of an alpha-1,3-linked N-acetylgalactosamine disaccharide at the nonreducing terminal of the Group C carbohydrate.