Characterization of a mannan-like oligosaccharide from Mycobacterium smegmatis

A nitrogen-free neutral mannooligosaccharide, similar in structure to the polysaccharide component of yeast mannoproteins, has been isolated from Mycobacterium smegmatis ATCC-356. It has a molecular weight of 3200 and is terminated at the reducing end by mannose. nuclear magentic resonance spectroscopy, methylation analysis, selective enzymic degradation and acetolysis indicates that the molecule consists of an alpha1 --> 6-linked backbone to which single mannose units are attached in alpha1 --> 2 linkage as sidechains.