Identification, purification and characterization of a streptococcal protein antigen with a molecular weight of 3800.

A small molecular weight streptococcal antigen of about 3800 was isolated from Streptococcus mutans. The peptide was obtained by gel filtration of a predominantly 185,000 mol. wt. antigen preparation, with two major antigenic determinants (I/II), on Sephacryl S-200, in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS). The 185,000 mol. wt. antigen was prepared from the culture supernatant of S. mutans by ammonium sulphate precipitation, DEAE cellulose chromatography and gel filtration on Sepharose 6B. The 3800 mol. wt. material gave a single band on SDS/polyacrylamide gel and reacted with antisera to streptococcal antigen I/II, I and II but not III. Furthermore, it was digested by pronase, contained only traces of carbohydrate and lipids were not detected. It is suggested that SA I/II is either synthesized in a range of molecular sizes from 185,000 to 3800 or the former is broken down by streptococcal proteases into smaller fragments.