Synthesis of "group polysaccharide" by membranes from Streptococcus pyogenes and its stabilized L-form

Rhamnose and N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) are incorporated from thymidine 5'-diphosphorhamnose and uridine 5-diphospho-N-acetylglucosamine (UDPGlcNAc) into membrane fragments prepared from Streptococcus pyogenes but not into membrane fragements prepared from a stabilized L-form of this organism. Incorporation from TDPrhamnose is partially dependent upon UDPGlcNAc and vice versa. The oligomeric GlcNAc and rhamonose-containing products are easily extracted from membrane particles by sedimentation through detergent solutions. They are substantially extracted into methanol but not into chloroform-methanol (2:1). When product containing both radioactive rhamnose and GlcNAc is deacetylated and hydrolyzed briefy in acid, glucosaminyl rhamnose is obtained, byt not higher oligomers, suggesting that oligomer synthesis in vitro is terminated because unidentified wnzymatic requirements are not satisfied. The data are consistent with the assembly of group A-specific polysaccharide at the cellular membrane with participation of a lipoid anchor (acceptor) molecule.