Structural investigation of Klebsiella serotype K70 polysaccharide

By using the techniques of methylation analysis, uronic acid degradation, partial hydrolysis, and periodate oxidation, the structure of the capsular polysaccharide from Klebsiella serotype K70 has been investigated. Nuclear magnetic resonance was used extensively to characterize fragments obtained as a result of the various degradation procedures. The existence of a linear, hexasaccharide repeating unit having a 1-carboxyethylidene group attached to a 2-linked α-l-rhamnosyl residue in every second repeating unit has been demonstrated.