Group A streptococcal bacteriocin. Production, purification, and mode of action.

A bacteriocin, streptocin A, was isolated from the supernatant fluid of tryptic soy broth cultures of Group A streptococcus strain FF-22. Evidence was obtained which supports the view that the failure to recover active streptocin A after growth of the producer strain in certain fluid media is due to the inactivation of the bacteriocin by concomitantly synthesized streptococcal proteinase. The bacteriocin was purified 139-fold and the active product appeared to be of uniform size, having a molecular weight of approximately 8,000. Streptocin A was bactericidal, but not lytic, for a susceptible Group A streptococcus and the lethal effect was markedly temperature dependent. The bacteriocin inhibited the synthesis of DNA, RNA, and protein, and also prevented the uptake and incorporation of glucose by the sensitive cells. Degradation of RNA occurred, but appeared to be less than that produced by a staphylococcal bacteriocin. This effect may be due to differences in the killing potency of the two bacteriocins in preparations having similar inhibitory activity when measured by lawn culture assays.