Structure of Streptococcal Cell Walls

Structural Variations in Bacterial Cell Wall Peptidoglycans Studied with Streptomyces F1 endo-N-Acetylmuramidase

“…Cell walls of Clostridium sp, Corynebacterium anaerobium, or Listeria monocytogenes, and S. lútea give rise, under the action of Fi enzyme, to a still smaller number of reducing groups. The polysaccharide moieties of some cell wall peptidoglycans may have unusual features; the presence of O-acetyl groups has been demonstrated in cell walls of S. aureus (Ghuysen and Strominger, 1963a) and of certain strains of M. lysodeikticus (Brumfitt, 1959); 1,3 glycosidic linkages might occur in Streptococcus cell walls (Barkulis et al, 1964). It cannot be precluded that, in some cases, peculiarities in the polysaccharide chains would be responsible for a limited hydrolytic action of the Fi enzyme.…”