Chemical and 13C-n.m.r. studies of an arabinogalactan from Larix sibirica L.

An arabinogalactan isolated from the wood of Larix sibirica L. was investigated by methylation analysis, partial hydrolysis, enzymic oxidation, and ¹³C-n.m.r. spectroscopy. The structural conclusions arrived at by ¹³C-n.m.r. spectroscopy were consistent with the data from methylation analysis. The polysaccharide is highly branched and similar in structure to those of arabino-3,6-galactans isolated from other Larix species.     

Structural investigation of Klebsiella serotype K36 polysaccharide

Klebsiella K36 capsular polysaccharide has been investigated by methylation, Smith-periodate oxidation and partial hydrolysis techniques. The structure was found to consist of a hexasaccharide repeating unit as shown. The anomeric configurations of the sugar were determined by ¹H and ¹³C n.m.r. spectroscopy on isolated oligomers obtained during the degradative studies and on the intact polysaccharide.     

A comparison of some hydrolytic and gas chromatographic procedures used in methylation analysis of the carbohydrate units of glycopeptides

The polysaccharide secreted by Klebsiella aerogenes type 54 strain A3 was isolated, methylated, the ester carboxyl-reduced, and the product partially hydrolyzed. The resulting, partially O-methylated oligosaccharides were reduced and ethylated, and the mixture of products was fractionated by l.c. The l.c. fractions containing per-O-alkylated oligosaccharide-alditols were analyzed by e.i.-m.s. Pure per-O-alkylated oligosaccharide-alditols were also analyzed by ¹H-n.m.r. spectroscopy. The products obtained by base-catalyzed degradation and subsequent ethylation of the per-O-methylated polysaccharide were fractionated by l.c. The main product isolated was analyzed by e.i.-m.s., c.i.-m.s., and ¹H-n.m.r. spectroscopy. The results of these studies, in conjunction with results of analytical methods commonly used in the elucidation of polysaccharide structures, unambiguously characterized the primary glycosyl structure of the polysaccharide. Base-labile substituents, previously reported to be present in the polysaccharide, were not studied. Structure 1 revises, and complements, previously reported structures.

     

Structure of the capsular polysaccharide of Klebsiella K- type 63

Structural investigation of the capsular polysaccharide from Klebsiella K type 63 by methylation analysis, periodate oxidation, and uronic acid degradation showed the repeating unit to consist of →3)-α-D-Galp-(1→3)-α-D-GalpA-(1→3)-α-L-Fucp(1→. This structure is identical to that of Escherichia coli serotype K-42 capsular polysaccharide. The ¹H- and¹³C-n.m.r. spectra of the original and modified polysaccharide are consistent with the foregoing structure.     

Glycosylation by d-fructofuranose thio-orthoesters

The capsular polysaccharide from Klebsiella type K54, containing both O-formyl and O-acetyl groups, has been investigated by using the techniques of methylation analysis (by gas-liquid chromatography), periodate oxidation-Smith degradation, and both ¹H- and ¹³C-n.m.r. spectroscopy. Degradation of the native polysaccharide with a bacteriophage-induced glucosidase generated a formylated, as well as a formylated and acetylated, tetrasaccharide, whereas similar depolymerization of the deacetylated polysaccharide yielded a single tetrasaccharide; the corresponding, O-acylated octasaccharides were also isolated and characterized. These oligosaccharides, utilized in chemical and spectroscopic studies in order to determine the location of the O-acyl substituents in the repeating sequence, indicated formylation at O-4 of each lateral d-glucosyl group and acetylation at O-2 of alternate l-fucosyl residues. A new structure for the repeating unit in the polysaccharide is proposed.     

Structural studies of an extracellular polysaccharide (S-198) elaborated by Alcaligenes ATCC 31853

The structure of an extracellular polysaccharide, S-198, elaborated by Alcaligenes ATCC 31853 has been investigated; methylation analysis, specific degradations, and ¹H-n.m.r. spectroscopy were the main methods used. It is suggested that the polysaccharide is composed of “repeating units” with the structure

A sugar residue in the chain may be either L-rhamnose or L-mannose and only ≈50% of the residues contain the branching α-L-rhamnopyranosyl group. The polysaccharide further contains O-acryl groups. It belongs to a group of polysaccharides, elaborated by Alcaligenes and Pseudomonas species, which all have the same linear backbone (except that some of them do not contain L-mannose) without branching or with branches that differ in their chemical structures and/or positions.     

Structural investigation of the capsular polysaccharide of klebsiella serotype K12

Klebsiella K12 capsular polysaccharide has been investigated by the techniques of methylation, Smith degradation—periodate oxidation, uronic acid degradation, and partial hydrolysis, in conjunction with ¹H-n.m.r. spectroscopy at 100 and 220 MHz, and ¹³C-n.m.r. spectroscopy at 20 MHz. The structure has been found to consist of the hexasaccharide repeating-unit shown, having a d-galactofuranosyl residue at the branch point. In this series, a d-galactofuranosyl residue has previously only been found in the polysaccharide from Klebsiella K41.

     

Structural investigation of the capsular polysaccharide of klebsiella serotype K26

The structure of the capsular polysaccharide from Klebsiella K26 has been determined by using the techniques of methylation, periodate oxidation, partial hydrolysis, and β-elimination. N.m.r. spectroscopy (¹H and ¹³C) was used to establish the nature of the anomeric linkages and to identify oligosaccharides obtained by the different degradative techniques employed.The polysaccharide is comprised of repeating units of the heptasaccharide shown.

     

Structural study of the extracellular polysaccharide gum from Rhizobium strain CB744

The structure of the extracellular polysaccharide gum from nitrogen-fixing Rhizobium sp. strain CB744 (a member of the slow-growing Cowpea group) has been investigated. Gas-chromatographic analysis of the alditol acetates of the acid hydrolysate showed the gum to be composed of galactose, 4-O-methylgalactose, mannose, and glucose in the molar ratio of 1:2.5:3.5:7.0. The polysaccharide is unusual in that it contains no carbonyl substituent, although such substituents are common amongst polysaccharides produced by the slow-growing group. The native and de-branched polysaccharides were examined by methylation analysis. The anomeric configurations were determined by ¹³C-n.m.r. and oxidation by chromium trioxide. It is concluded that there are two β-(1→4)-linked glycopyranosyl residues for each α-(1→4)-linked mannopyranosyl residue, and that each mannose is substituted at O-6 by a β-galactopyranosyl residue, with 71% of the galactose groups being present as 4-O-methylgalactose.     

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 investigation of the capsular polysaccharide of Klebsiella serotype k23

Klebsiella K23 capsular polysaccharide has been investigated by the techniques of hydrolysis, methylation, Smith degradation-periodate oxidation, and base-catalysed degradation, either on the original or the carboxyl-reduced polysaccharide. The structure was found to consist of a tetrasaccharide repeating-unit, as shown below. The anomeric configurations of the sugar residues were determined by ₁H-and ¹³C-n.m.r. spectroscopy on the original and degraded polysaccharides.

     

The complete structure of the trifoliin a lectin-binding capsular polysaccharide of Rhizobium trifolii 843

The complete structure of the acidic, extracellular, capsular polysaccharide of Rhizobium trifolii 843 has been elucidated by a combination of chemical, enzymic, and spectroscopic methods, confirming an earlier proposed sugar sequence and assigning the locations of the acyl substituents. The polysaccharide was depolymerized by a lyase into octasaccharide units which were uniform in carbohydrate composition and linkage. These units also contained a uniform distribution of acetyl and pyruvic acetal [O-(1-carboxyethylidene)] groups, and half of them were further acylated with d-3-hydroxybutanoyl groups. A much smaller proportion (<5%) of the oligomers was further acylated by a second d-3-hydroxy-butanoyl group. The locations of the substituents were determined chemically and by J-correlated, ¹H-n.m.r. spectroscopy, proton nuclear Overhauser effect (n.O.e.)_ measurements, doubie-resonance ¹H-n.m.r. spectroscopy, and ¹³C-n.m.r. spectroscopy. The composition and structure of the carbohydrate chain were determined by methylation analysis using g.l.c.-m.s. fast-atom-bombardment mass spectrometry, and n.m.r. studies on the reduced, deacylated oligomer. Structural studies were supplemented by n.m.r. analyses on the original polymer. The oligosaccharides were found to be branched octasaccharides with four sugar residues in each branch, and the carbohydrate sequence agreed well with that expected from earlier work. In the abbreviated sequence and structure (1a), the sugar residues are labelled “a” through “h”. The main chain (a–d) is composed of a 4-deoxy-α-l-threo-hex-4-enopyranosyluronic acid group (a) that is linked to O-4 of a 3-O-acetyl-d-glucosyluronic acid residue (b) which is β-linked to O-4 of a d-glucosyl residue (c). Residue c is β-linked to O-4 of the branching d-linked to O-4 of a d-glucosyl residue (d). The side chain consists of a substituted d-galactosyl group (h) which is β-linked to O-3 of residue 9 of a β-(1→4)-linked d-glucose trisaccharide (fragment e–f–g). The reducing end of the resulting tetrasaccharide (e–f–g–h) is β-linked to O-6 of the branching d-glucose residue (d). In the native polymer, this branching residue is α-linked to O-4 of the modified d-glucuronic acid residue (a) which is the unsaturated sugar in the oligomer. A small proportion of the O-2 atoms of the acetylated d-glucosyluronic acid residues is acetylated because of ester migration. The two terminal sugars (g and h) of the branch chain bear 4,6-O-(1-carboxyethylidene) groups. The d-galactosyl groups of half of the oligomers are acylated by d-3-hydroxybutanoyl groups at O-3. About 5% of the oligomers bear a second d-3-hydroxybutanoyl group at O-2 of the d-galactosyl group (h).     

Chemical and n.m.r.-spectroscopic investigation of the capsular polysaccharide of klebsiella serotype k41

The structure of the repeating unit of the capsular polysaccharide from Klebsiella type 41 has been investigated by methylation analysis of the original and the carboxyl-reduced polymer, uronic acid degradation, Smith degradation, and graded acid hydrolysis. Proton- and ¹³C-n.m.r. spectroscopy of the original polysaccharide and of the fragments obtained by various methods confirmed some structural features and allowed determination of the anomeric configuration of the glycosidic linkages. This polysaccharide is shown to have the following heptasaccharide repeating-unit:

This is the first polysaccharide antigen K of the Klebsiella series found to have seven sugar residues in its repeating unit, and to contain a galactose residue in its furanose form.     

Evidence for a single type of linkage in a fructofuranan from Lolium perenne

On extraction with water, rye grass (Lolium perenne) yielded a mixture of polysaccharides. Fractionation thereof led to the isolation of two fructofuranans, one of which preponderated. Analysis of the main polysaccharide by ¹³C-n.m.r. spectroscopy indicated that it is composed of fructofuranosyl residues linked only (2 → 6), and terminated by a glucosyl group linked as in sucrose.     

Acylated oligosaccharides from Klebsiella K63 capsular polysaccharide: Depolymerization by partial hydrolysis and by bacteriophage-borne enzymes

The extracellular polysaccharide from Klebsiella K63 is unique in having acetic and formic ester groups attached to the d-galactopyranosyluronic residues in the trisaccharide repeating-sequence. These O-acyl substituents are shown to be some what resistant to mild hydrolysis by both acid and alkali. Bacteriophage-induced depolymerization of the polysaccharide generated a series of acylated oligosaccharides comprising one, or more, repeating unit(s). By mild hydrolysis with acid, the same series of oligomers was released from the polysaccharide, together with the corresponding non-acylated compounds and the expected acylated and non-acylated aldobiouronic acids. A study of these oligosaccharides, as well as of a number of their related compounds, is described, with particular emphasis on the methods used to locate the formic and acetic ester groups. The location of the O-acyl substituents on the galactosyluronic residues was further supported by the results obtained from the high-resolution, 400-MHz, p.m.r. spectra and ¹³C-n.m.r. spectra of a number of the oligosaccharides.     

Structure of the d-galacto-d-mannan isolated from the seeds of Melilotus indica All

A d-galacto-d-mannan ([α]_D +72.0 and d-galactose-to-d-mannose ratio 1:1.14) was isolated from the seeds of Melilotus indica All., syn. M. parviflora Desf. The ¹H- and ¹³C-n.m.r., and i.r. spectra indicated the presence of α-d-galactopyranosyl and β-d-mannopyranosyl residues. Methylation of the polysaccharide, followed by hydrolysis, afforded, 2,3,4,6-tetra-, 2,3,6-tri-, 2,3-di-, and 3,4-di-O-methyl-d-mannose, and 2,3,4,6-tetra- and 2,3,6-tri-O-methyl-d-galactose in the molar ratios of 1:2:22:6:27:3. Periodate oxidation of the polysaccharide, followed by reduction and hydrolysis, gave erythritol (1 mol) and glycerol (1.24 mol). Partial acid hydrolysis of the polysaccharide afforded O-β-d-mannopyranosyl-(1→2)-d-mannopyranose, O-β-d-mannopyranosyl-(1→4)-d-mannopyranose, O-α-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→6)-d-mannopyranose, O-α-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→4)-d-galactopyranose, and O-α-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→6)-O-β-d-mannopyranosyl-(1→4)-d-mannopyranose. A highly branched structure having a mannan backbone composed of 36% of (1→4)- and 10% of (1→2)-linked β-d-mannopyranosyl units is proposed for the galactomannan.     

Structural investigation of the capsular polysaccharide from Klebsiella serotype K-34 and its characterization by N.M.R. spectroscopy

The repeating unit of the capsular polysaccharide from Klebsiella type K-34 has been established by methylation, partial hydrolysis, and Smith degradation to consist of a hexasaccharide repeating-unit built up of four l-rhamnose, one d-glucose, and one d-galacturonic acid residues. The anomeric configurations of the linkages was determined by proton and ¹³C-n.m.r. spectroscopy at each step of the degradation procedures. Further evidence for the configurations of the glycosidic linkages involved the use of proton T₁ relaxation-times and oxidation by chromium trioxide. The data allowed assignment of the following structure for the repeating unit:     

Structural investigation of the arabinoxyloglucan from Nicotiana tabacum

The structure of tobacco arabinoxyloglucan has been further studied by methylation analysis, by ¹H-, and ¹³C-n.m.r., and by fd. mass spectrometry, after complete digestion by cellulase. The results showed the polysaccharide molecule to be composed of two parts; a hexasaccharide component (AraXyl₂Glc₃, 1) and an unsubstituted (1→4)-β-d-glucan region (4-O-linked glucosyl residues) in the molar ratio of ～ 1:2. Some heterogeneities of this structure in the arabinofuranosyl sub-group were also found.     

Structure of a new galactomannan from the ascocarps of Cordyceps cicadae shing

A water-soluble galactomannan (C-3), [α]_D²⁰ +30°, isolated from the rod-like ascocarps of Cordyceps cicadae, was determined to be homogeneous, and the molecular weight was estimated by gel filtration to be 27,000. The polysaccharide is composed of d-mannose and d-galactose in the molar ratio of 4:3. The results of methylation analysis, Smith degradation, stepwise hydrolysis with acid, and ¹³C-n.m.r. spectroscopy indicated that the polysaccharide is of highly branched structure, and composed of α-d-(1→2)-linked and α-d-(1→6)-linked mannopyranosyl residues in the core; some of these residues are substituted at O-6 and O-2 with terminal β-d-galactofuranosyl and α-d-mannopyranosyl groups, and with short chains of β-d-(1→2)-linked d-galactofuranosyl units.     

Structural investigation of the capsular polysaccharide of Klebsiella serotype K80

The use of methylation, periodate oxidation, β-elimination, and selective hydrolysis enabled the structure of the K80 polysaccharide to be determined. The nature of the anomeric linkages was established by ¹H-n.m.r. spectroscopy, and confirmed by the results of oxidation of the fully acetylated polysaccharide with chromic acid. The K80 polysaccharide is comprised of repeating units of the pentasaccharide shown, and contains a pyruvic acetal on each repeating unit. This pattern constitutes the first instance, in this series of polysaccharides, of a pyruvic acetal attached to a side-chain rhamnosyl group.