Extraction of group C streptococcal IgG-binding receptor and characterization of the active peptides by Western blotting and isoelectric focusing.

Three different enzymatic extraction procedures were tested for their effectivity in releasing IgG-binding peptides from the streptococcal cell wall. Streptococcus equisimilis strain 12628 isolated from pig was incubated with phage-associated lysin, trypsin and Streptomyces globisporus lytic enzyme and the extracts were investigated by Western blotting, indirect erythrocyte agglutination and Ouchterlony diffusion for IgG-binding activity. With all treatments IgG-binding peptides were extracted. However, no homogenous IgG-binding material was released by the enzymes tested. In each case a multiple peptide pattern with IgG-binding activity was found. The molecular weights of the active peptides released also differed between the extraction procedures. The isoelectric points between 4.0 and 4.3 of IgG-binding components were found to be similar for all three extracts.