PRESENCE OF INTESTINAL LECTIN-BINDING GLYCOPROTEINS ON THE CELL-SURFACE OF LACTOBACILLUS-ACIDOPHILUS

The presence of intestinal lectin-binding glycoproteins on the cell su rface of Lactobacillus acidophilus group lactic acid bacteria was exam ined. The cell-surface components were extracted with 2M guanidine hyd rochloride, and electrophoresed by SDS-PAGE followed by electroblottin g. Several glycoproteins were detected on the blots of the extracts fr om 7 of the 11 strains tested. The distribution of glycoproteins seeme d to be specific for strains rather than for species. beta-Galactoside -specific lectin was extracted from chicken intestine, and then was la beled with horseradish peroxidase. The binding of the lectin to glycop roteins detected was assayed by a ligand blotting procedure using the labeled lectin. The lectin-binding glycoproteins estimated to be 60.2 and 43.0 kDa, respectively, were detected from strain L. acidophilus J CM1132(T), but not from other strains. The binding was inhibited in th e presence of lactose, indicating that the binding was specific. Presu mably, the interaction between bacterial cell glycoproteins and intest inal lectins participates in the specific adherent of the bacterium to intestinal epithelial surfaces.