Preparation and Structural Analysis of Lipoteichoic Acid on Cell Membranes Derived from Lactic Acid Bacteria.

Gram-positive bacteria, including lactic acid bacteria (LAB), possess lipoteichoic acid (LTA) on the cell surface. LTA is an amphiphilic molecule typically composed of hydrophilic glycerolphosphate polymer and hydrophobic anchor glycolipid moieties. It is involved in physiological properties of the cell surface and also plays roles in interactions with the host. Appropriate preparation procedures, such as extraction and purification, are required to clarify the structure-activity relationship. Structural diversity of LTA has been reported at the bacterial species and strain levels, and structural differences might affect interactions with the host. This chapter introduces techniques for preparation and structural analysis of LTA derived from LAB. It consists of four sections, covering butanol extraction, hydrophobic interaction chromatography, immunoblotting, and structural analysis. Technical notes containing supplemental information about the individual steps are also provided.