Cell walls of group D streptococci. II. Chemical studies on the type 1 antigen purified from the autolytic digest of cell walls.

Autolysis of group D, type I cell walls by an indigenous autolytic enzyme results in the solubilization of the type I antigen. The antigen was purified from the autolytic digest by diethylaminoethyl cellulose chromatography. Chemical analysis of the purified type 1 antigen revealed glucose, glucosamine, galactosamine, rhamnose, ribitol, phosphorus, and residual peptoglycan components. This analysis suggested that the type I antigen is a heteropolymer which may contain a ribitol teichoic acid. The antigen purified by the procedure outlined here is higher in phosphorus content, lower in peptidoglycan, and more reactive serologically than the antigen prepared by methods previously described.