Non-protein components of the cell surface of Staphylococcus aureus

1. pH–mobility curves of various laboratory strains of Staphylococcus aureus are non-sigmoid in shape, and all pass through a maximum value in the range pH4–5. 2. The maxima in the curves are not due to incomplete washing of the cells, adsorption of buffer components or irreversible surface damage. 3. Mild oxidation of the cell-surface teichoic acid with sodium metaperiodate gives cells that have typical sigmoid pH–mobility curves, characteristic of either a simple carboxyl surface or a mixed carboxyl–amino surface. 4. The results are discussed in terms of a pH-dependent change in the configuration of the teichoic acid molecules at the surface.