Cellular streptolysin S-related hemolysins of group A Streptococcus C203S

Group A streptococci strain C203S, grown in heart infusion broth with 0.3% maltose, produce two cellular hemolysins related to extracellular streptolysin S (SLS). Enzymatic lysis of the streptococci by group C streptococcal phage-associated lysin results in release of low titer, labile hemolysin, which can be stabilized by ribonucleic acid (RNA)-core (RNA preparation from yeast). This labile hemolysin can be detected only after the higher titer cellular streptolysin O is removed by erythrocyte membranes or inactivated by N-ethylmaleimide. The other cellular SLS-related hemolysin is released in a latent state (potential hemolysin) which can be activated to high-titer hemolysin by sonication with RNA-core. The titer of such activated hemolysin depends upon the intensity of sonic energy, duration of sonication, and amount of RNA-core. RNA obtained from the streptococci is far less effective than RNA-core. When the cocci are disrupted by sonication or grinding, potential hemolysin and/or activated form may be released, depending upon the conditions employed. The potential hemolysin material is large and heterogeneous; activation appears to involve, in part, disaggregation or fragmentation. Labile hemolysin, potential hemolysin, and the activated form of potential hemolysin can all be converted to hemolysin having the same hemolytic and physical properties as RNA-core SLS, suggesting that all have the same hemolytic moiety. The presence of glucose in heart infusion broth prevents formation of both potential hemolysin and RNA-core SLS by log-phase cells, whereas addition of glucose to a culture in heart infusion broth with 0.3% maltose stops accumulation of potential hemolysin but does not affect continuation of RNA-core SLS release. These results suggest that potential hemolysin is a cellular precursor to RNA-core SLS.