ANTIGENIC DETERMINANTS OF STREPTOCOCCUS-PYOGENES RIBOSOMES

An attempt has been made to identify the ribosomal proteins responsibl e for the production of antibodies upon immunization of monkeys with 7 0S ribosomes of Streptococcus pyogenes group A 29 M type. Identificati on was carried out by immunoblotting after isolation and separation of the proteins of 70S, 50S and 30S ribosomal particles on one- and two- dimensional gel electrophoresis. Three major proteins of S. pyogenes 7 0S ribosomes with clearly expressed antigenic properties were identifi ed by Western blotting. One of these proteins belonged to the 50S subu nit and the other two to the 30S ribosomal subunit. We assume that the se proteins represent those of group A streptococci. As a result the a ntibodies are produced first of all against these antigenic proteins i n contrast to the others evolutionary conservative ribosomal proteins.