Release of lipoteichoic acid from Streptococcus sanguis: Stimulation of release during penicillin treatment

Abstract

The spontaneous and the penicillin-stimulated release of water-soluble, glycerol-labeled polymers was compared in S. sanguis. In contrast to the spontaneous release occurring in exponentially growing or stationary-phase bacteria, penicillin-treated cells released the bulk of these polymers, and they were not replenished by synthesis during antibiotic treatment. Furthermore, a major portion of the extracellular polymers was characterized as acylated lipoteichoic acid.