INVITRO SYSTEM FOR SYNTHESIS OF TEICHOIC-ACID LINKED TO PEPTIDOGLYCAN

A crude cell wall preparation of Staphylococcus aureus H prepared by the method of Mirelman and Sharon catalyzed the synthesis of polyribitol phosphate linked to the cell wall peptidoglycan. The reaction used CDP-ribitol as a substrate and required the presence of CDP-glycerol, UDP-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, and A.T.P. Incubation of radioactive CDP-glycerol with the crude cell wall preparation resulted in the transfer of glycerol phosphate residues to the cell wall; this reaction was greatly stimulated by the presence of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine. Polyribitol phosphate is apparently linked to the cell wall peptidoglycan by an oligomer containing N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and glycerol phosphate.