Structural studies of the capsular polysaccharide from Streptococcus pneumoniae type 18A

The structure of the capsular polysaccharide (S18A) elaborated by Streptococcus pneumoniae type 18A has been investigated by using methylation analysis and n.m.r. spectroscopy. It is concluded that the polysaccharide is composed of pentasaccharide repeating-units having the following structure. (formula; see text) In this structure, the absolute configuration of the glycerol 1-phosphate moiety has not been determined but is assumed to be D from biosynthesis considerations. The structure of S18A is, as expected, closely similar to those determined for S18F and S18C.     

Structural studies of the capsular polysaccharide from Streptococcus pneumoniae type 5

The structure of the capsular polysaccharide (S5) elaborated by Streptococcus pneumoniae type 5 has been investigated by using n.m.r. spectroscopy, methylation analysis, and various specific degradations. It is concluded that the polysaccharide is composed of pentasaccharide repeating-units having the following structure: (Formula: see text) In this structure, L-PneNAc stands for 2-acetamido-2,6-dideoxy-L-talose (pneumosamine) and D-Sug for 2-acetamido-2,6-dideoxy-D-xylo-hexos-4-ulose. The latter sugar accounts for the lability of S5 towards alkali. N.m.r. spectra indicate heterogeneity in S5, most probably associated with the hexosyl-4-ulose residue.     

Structural studies of the capsular polysaccharide from Streptococcus pneumoniae type 18F

The structure of the capsular polysaccharide elaborated by Streptococcus pneumoniae type 18F (S18F) has been investigated by using n.m.r. spectroscopy, methylation analysis, and characterisation of oligosaccharides obtained on partial hydrolysis. It is concluded that the polysaccharide is composed of pentasaccharide repeating-units having the following structure. (formula; see text) In this structure, the absolute configuration of the glycerol phosphate moiety has not been determined, but is assumed to be D-glycerol 1-phosphate (sn-glycerol 3-phosphate). The location of an O-acetyl group at O-6 of the terminal alpha-D-glucopyranosyl groups is tentative only.     

Structural studies of capsular polysaccharide of type XII Diplococcus pneumoniae

The capsular polysaccharide of Diplococcus pneumoniae Type XII contains residues of d-glucose and d-galactose in a molar ratio of 2:1. The methylated polysaccharide yielded upon hydrolysis 2,3,4,6-tetra- and 3,4,6-tri-O-methyl-d-glucose and 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-methyl-d-galactose as the only neutral methyl sugars. Periodate oxidation of the polysaccharide resulted in destruction of all neutral sugars and immunochemical activity against rabbit antisera. Periodate oxidation of the methyl O-methylglycosides obtained after hydrolysis of the methylated polysaccharide indicated that at least 30% of the l-fucosamine residues are substituted at C-4 in the polysaccharide. It is concluded that the polysaccharide consists of a hexosamine backbone that is substituted by d-galactosyl and kojibiosyl side-chains. The proposed terminal d-galactosyl residues apparently are sterically hindered from interacting with several d-galactose-binding proteins.     

Structural studies of the capsular polysaccharide from Streptococcus pneumoniae types 15B and 15C

The structures of the capsular polysaccharides (S-15B and S-15C) from Streptococcus pneumoniae types 15B and 15C have been investigated by using n.m.r. spectroscopy, methylation analysis, and various specific degradations. It is concluded that the polysaccharides are composed of pentasaccharide repeating-units having the following structure: (Formula: see text). In this structure, R is H (80%) or CH2CH2N+Me3 (20%). S-15B further contains O-acetyl groups, approximately 0.7 per repeating unit, which have not been located. The capsular polysaccharides S-15F and S-15A, which have been studied previously, are also composed of pentasaccharide repeating-units, containing the same sequence of sugars, but in a linear arrangement.     

Structural determination of the capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 19A (57)

The structure of the Pneumococcus type 19A (57) capsular polysaccharide has been reinvestigated by using methylation analysis and n.m.r. spectroscopy. It is composed of residues of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-d-mannose, d-glucose, l-rhamnose, and phosphate in the molar ratios of 1:1:1:1. The polysaccharide is linear, and is composed of these components in a repeating unit of the following structure.

The type 19A polysaccharide (Na⁺ salt) was depolymerized by heating it in water at 100°, conditions that also hydrolyzed the newly formed phosphoric monoesters.     

Structural analysis and chemical depolymerization of the capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 1

NMR spectroscopy can be used to characterize bacterial polysaccharides such as that of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 1 which is a component of the 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine in clinical use. This particular polysaccharide gives NMR spectra with wide lines apparently due to restricted molecular mobility and chain flexibility which leads to rapid dipolar T(2) relaxation limiting the possibility of detailed spectral analysis. Removal of O-acetyl groups found on approximately two thirds of the repeating subunits of pneumococcal type 1 capsule leads to narrower NMR lines facilitating a complete assignment of the 1H and 13C NMR spectra. Degradation of the polysaccharide by periodate oxidation followed by base treatment leads to an oligosaccharide fragment of approximately three repeating trisaccharide units. This oligosaccharide has narrow NMR lines and 1H and 13C assignments very similar to those of the O-deacetylated polysaccharide. In the native polysaccharide, O-acetyl groups are located on the 2- and 3-positions of the 4-linked galacturonic acid residue providing protection against periodate oxidation. Analysis of NOESY spectra combined with molecular modeling of the oligosaccharide shows that flexibility occurs in certain of the saccharide linkages.     

Synthesis of the capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 14

Synthesis of the regular branched polysaccharide [-6(Gal beta 1-4)GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4Glc beta 1-]n structurally corresponding to capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 14 involves blockwise synthesis of a tritylated 1,2-O-(1-cyano)ethylidene tetrasaccharide derivative from lactosamine and lactose precursors followed by stereospecific polycondensation of the tetrasaccharide monomer.     

Structural analysis of the specific capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 45 (American type 72)

The specific capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 45 (American type 72) was found to be a high molecular weight polymer composed of D-galactose, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galactose, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-L-fucose, L-rhamnose, glycerol, and phosphate (2:1:1:1:1:1:1). Partial hydrolysis, dephosphorylation, methylation analysis, periodate oxidation studies, and one- and two-dimensional 1H and 13C high-field nuclear magnetic resonance experiments showed the polysaccharide to be a branched polymer of a 1-phosphoglycerol-substituted hexasaccharide repeating unit having the structure: (formula; see text).     

The specific capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 9V

The specific capsular polysaccharide produced by Streptococcus pneumoniae type 9V (American type 68) is composed of D-glucuronic acid (1 part), D-galactose (1 part), 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-mannose (1 part), D-glucose (2 parts), and O-acetyl (1.6 parts). Methylation, periodate oxidation, optical rotation, and nuclear magnetic resonance studies, and partial hydrolysis showed that the polysaccharide is an unbranched high molecular weight linear polymer of a partially O-acetylated pentasaccharide repeating unit having the structure indicated below. (Formula: see text).     

Mechanism of type 3 capsular polysaccharide synthesis in Streptococcus pneumoniae

The glycosidic linkages of the type 3 capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae ([3)-beta-D-GlcUA-(1-->4)-beta-D-Glc-(1-->](n)) are formed by the membrane-associated type 3 synthase (Cps3S), which is capable of synthesizing polymer from UDP sugar precursors. Using membrane preparations of S. pneumoniae in an in vitro assay, we observed type 3 synthase activity in the presence of either Mn(2+) or Mg(2+) with maximal levels seen with 10-20 mM Mn(2+). High molecular weight polymer synthesized in the assay was composed of Glc and glucuronic acid and could be degraded to a low molecular weight product by a type 3-specific depolymerase from Bacillus circulans. Additionally, the polymer bound specifically to an affinity column made with a type 3 polysaccharide-specific monoclonal antibody. The polysaccharide was rapidly synthesized from smaller chains and remained associated with the enzyme-containing membrane fraction throughout its synthesis, indicating a processive mechanism of synthesis. Release of the polysaccharide was observed, however, when the level of one of the substrates became limiting. Finally, addition of sugars to the growing type 3 polysaccharide was shown to occur at the nonreducing end of the polysaccharide chain.     

Two synthetic antigens related to Streptococcus pneumoniae type 3 capsular polysaccharide

The synthesis of the allyl beta-glycosides (8 and 20, respectively) of beta-D-GlcpA-(1----4)-D-Glcp and beta-D-Glcp-(1----3)-D-GlcpA (overlapping disaccharide fragments A and B) in the linear chain of the capsular polysaccharide (S3) from Streptococcus pneumoniae type 3 is described. Oxidation of allyl 2,3,6,2',3',4'-hexa-O-acetyl-beta-cellobioside with chromic acid and saponification of the product gave 8. The synthesis of 20 involved glycosylation of methyl 5-O-acetyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-glucofuranuronate or its 3-O-trityl derivative and subsequent furanose----pyranose transformation. The derivatives 8 and 20 were each copolymerised with acrylamide. In serological tests (enzyme immunoassay and passive hemagglutination), the resulting antigens exhibited the specificity of S3. It was concluded that fragment A was a much stronger immunodeterminant than fragment B.     

Structural studies of the capsular polysaccharide from Klebsiella type 1

The structure of the capsular polysaccharide from Klebsiella type 1, which is composed of D-glucose, D-glucuronic acid, L-fucose, and pyruvic acid (1:1:1:1), has been investigated. Methylation analysis, n.m.r. spectroscopy, graded hydrolysis, and periodate-oxidation studies were the principal methods used. These studies demonstrated that the polysaccharide consists of the following trisaccharide repeating-unit:

     

Synthesis of oligosaccharide fragments of the capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 3

Di-, tri- and tetrasaccharide fragments of the linear chain of the capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 3 consisting of glucose and glucuronic acid residues connected with beta 1----3- and beta 1----4-glycosidic linkage have been synthesised. A new method for selective deprotection of C3-hydroxyl group in the glucopyranuronic acid moiety is proposed.     

A carbohydrate-containing copolymer with the specificity of a capsular polysaccharide of type 3 Streptococcus pneumoniae

The synthesis of allyl beta-glycoside of cellobiuronic acid by chemical modification of cellobiose was described. The carbohydrate-containing polymers with different content of determinant groups were obtained via radical copolymerization of this hapten with acrylamide. The copolymer which contained 27% carbohydrates and had molecular mass about 100-300 kilodaltons had the serological specificity of the capsular polysaccharide Streptococcus pneumoniae type 3 as shown by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.     

Structural studies of the capsular polysaccharide of Klebsiella type 52

The structure of the capsular polysaccharide from Klebsiella Type 52 has been investigated. Methylation analysis, characterization by gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry of oligosaccharide derivatives obtained on partial hydrolysis of the methylated polysaccharide with acid, and specific degradation of the methylated polysaccharide by successive treatments with base and acid followed by characterization of the product, were the principal methods used. The polysaccharide is composed of hexasaccharide repeating-units containing D-glucuronic acid, D-galactose, and L-rhamnose, in the ratios 1:3:2. A structure for these units, disregarding the anomeric natures of the sugar residues, is proposed.