ELECTROPHORETIC STUDIES OF THE EXTRACELLULAR PRODUCTS OF GROUP A STREPTOCOCCI

Concentrates of the extracellular products of group A streptococci were prepared which were essentially free of constituents of the medium. The extracellular products appeared to consist primarily of protein material. The yield of total extracellular products was of the order of magnitude of 10 mg. per liter of supernatant broth. When studied by zone electrophoresis, the concentrates showed protein over a wide distribution with distinct peaks in certain areas. The locations of streptolysin O, streptokinase, desoxyribonuclease, and ribonuclease activities were identified, and partial separation of these enzymes was achieved. Considerable variation in the electrophoretic patterns of the extracellular products from different strains was noted.