A common linkage saccharide unit between teichoic acids and peptidoglycan in cell walls of Bacillus coagulans

Teichoic acid-glycopeptide complexes were isolated from lysozyme digests of the cell walls of Bacillus coagulans AHU 1631, AHU 1634, and AHU 1638, and the structure of the teichoic acid moieties and their linkage regions was studied. On treatment with hydrogen fluoride, each of the complexes gave a hexosamine-containing disaccharide, which was identified to be glucosyl(beta 1----4)N-acetylglucosamine, in addition to dephosphorylated repeating units of the teichoic acids, namely, galactosyl(alpha 1----2)glycerol and either galactosyl(alpha 1----2)[glucosyl(alpha 1----1/3)]glycerol (AHU 1638) or galactosyl(alpha 1----2)[glucosyl(beta 1----1/3)]glycerol (AHU 1631 and AHU 1634). From the results of Smith degradation, methylation analysis, and partial acid hydrolysis, the teichoic acids from these strains seem to have the same backbone chains composed of galactosyl(alpha 1----2)glycerol phosphate units joined by phosphodiester bonds at C-6 of the galactose residues. The presence of the disaccharide, glucosyl(beta 1----4)N-acetylglucosamine, in the linkage regions between teichoic acids and peptidoglycan was confirmed by the isolation of a disaccharide-linked glycopeptide fragment from each complex after treatment with mild alkali and of a teichoic acid-linked saccharide from each cell wall preparation after treatment with mild acid. Thus, it is concluded that despite structural differences in the glycosidic branches, the teichoic acids in the cell walls of the three strains are linked to peptidoglycan through a common linkage saccharide, glucosyl (beta 1----4) N-acetylglucosamine.     

Structural studies on the minor teichoic acid of Bacillus coagulans AHU 1631

The minor teichoic acid linked to glycopeptide was isolated from lysozyme digests of Bacillus coagulans AHU 1631 cell walls, and the structure of the teichoic acid moiety and its junction with the peptidoglycan were studied. Hydrolysis of the teichoic-acid--glycopeptide complex with hydrogen fluoride gave a nonreducing oligosaccharide composed of glucose, galactose and glycerol in a molar ratio of 3:1:1 which was presumed to be dephosphorylated repeating units of the polymer chain. From the results of structural analysis involving NaIO4 oxidation, methylation and acetolysis, the above fragment was characterized as glucosyl(beta 1----3)glucosyl(beta 1----6)galactosyl(beta 1----6)glucosyl(alpha 1----1/3)glycerol. In addition, the Smith degradation of the complex yielded a phosphorus-containing fragment identified as glycerol-P-6-glucosyl(beta 1----1/3)glycerol. These results led to the most likely structure for the repeating units of the teichoic acid, -6[glucosyl(beta 1----3)]glucosyl(beta 1----6)galactosyl(beta 1----6)glucosyl(alpha 1----1/3)glycerol-P-. The minor teichoic acid, just like the major teichoic acid bound to the linkage unit, was released by heating the cell walls at pH 2.5. The mild alkaline hydrolysis of the minor teichoic acid after reduction with NaB3H4 gave labeled saccharides characterized as glucosyl(beta 1----6)galactitol and glucosyl(beta 1----3)glucosyl(beta 1----6)galactitol, together with a large amount of the unlabeled repeating units of the teichoic acid chain. Thus, the minor teichoic acid chain is believed to be directly linked to peptidoglycan at the galactose residue of the terminal repeating unit without a special linkage sugar unit.     

N-acetylmannosaminyl(1----4)N-acetylglucosamine, a linkage unit between glycerol teichoic acid and peptidoglycan in cell walls of several Bacillus strains.

The structure of teichoic acid-glycopeptide complexes isolated from lysozyme digests of cell walls of Bacillus subtilis (four strains) and Bacillus licheniformis (one strain) was studied to obtain information on the structural relationship between glycerol teichoic acids and their linkage saccharides. Each preparation of the complexes contained equimolar amounts of muramic acid 6-phosphate and mannosamine in addition to glycopeptide components and glycerol teichoic acid components characteristic of the strain. Upon treatment with 47% hydrogen fluoride, these preparations gave, in common, a hexosamine-containing disaccharide, which was identified as N- acetylmannosaminyl (1----4) N-acetylglucosamine, along with large amounts of glycosylglycerols presumed to be the dephosphorylated repeating units of teichoic acid chains. The glycosylglycerol obtained from each bacterial strain was identified as follows: B. subtilis AHU 1392, glucosyl alpha (1----2)glycerol; B. subtilis AHU 1235, glucosyl beta(1----2) glycerol; B. subtilis AHU 1035 and AHU 1037, glucosyl alpha (1----6)galactosyl alpha (1----1 or 3)glycerol; B. licheniformis AHU 1371, galactosyl alpha (1----2)glycerol. By means of Smith degradation, the galactose residues in the teichoic acid-glycopeptide complexes from B. subtilis AHU 1035 and AHU 1037 and B. licheniformis AHU 1371 were shown to be involved in the backbone chains of the teichoic acid moieties. Thus, the glycerol teichoic acids in the cell walls of five bacterial strains seem to be joined to peptidoglycan through a common linkage disaccharide, N- acetylmannosaminyl (1----4)N-acetylglucosamine, irrespective of the structural diversity in the glycosidic branches and backbone chains.     

The structure of pneumococcal lipoteichoic acid. Improved preparation, chemical and mass spectrometric studies.

Pneumococcal lipoteichoic acid was extracted and purified by a novel, quick and effective procedure. Structural analysis included methylation, periodate oxidation, Smith degradation, oxidation with CrO3, and fast-atom-bombardment mass spectrometry. Hydrolysis with 48% (by mass) HF and subsequent phase partition yielded the lipid anchor (I), the dephosphorylated repeating unit of the chain (II) and a cleavage product of the latter (III). The proposed structures are: (I) Glc(beta 1----3)AATGal(beta 1----3)Glc(alpha 1----3)acyl2Gro, (II) Glc(beta 1----3)AATGal(alpha 1----4)GalNAc(alpha 1----3)GalNAc(beta 1----1)ribitol and (III) Glc(beta 1----3)AATGal(alpha 1----4)GalNAc(alpha 1----3)GalNAc, where AATGal is 2-acetamido-4-amino-2,4,6-trideoxygalactose, and all sugars are in the pyranose form and belong to the D-series. Alkaline phosphodiester cleavage of lipoteichoic acid, followed by treatment with phosphomonoesterase, resulted in the formation of II and IV, with IV as the prevailing species: [sequence: see text] The linkage between the repeating units was established as phosphodiester bond between ribitol 5-phosphate and position 6 of the glucosyl residue of adjacent units. The chain was shown to be linked to the lipid anchor by a phosphodiester between its ribitol 5-phosphate terminus and position 6 of the non-reducing glucosyl terminus of I. The lipoteichoic acid is polydisperse: the chain length may vary between 2 and 8 repeating units and variations were also observed for the fatty acid composition of the diacylglycerol moiety. Preliminary results suggest that repeating units II and IV are enriched in separate molecular species. All species were associated with Forssman antigenicity, albeit to a various extent when related to the non-phosphocholine phosphorus. Owing to its unique structure, the described macroamphiphile may be classified as atypical lipoteichoic acid.     

Structural studies on N-acetylmannosaminuronic acid-containing and glucuronic acid-containing teichuronic acids in the cell wall of Bacillus megaterium AHU 1375

Structural studies were carried out on two kinds of teichuronic acid-glycopeptide complexes (designated as TU-GP-I and TU-GP-II) isolated from lysozyme digest of N-acetylated cell walls of Bacillus megaterium AHU 1375 by ion-exchange chromatography and gel chromatography. TU-GP-I, accounting for about 25% of the cell walls, contained N-acetylmannosaminuronic acid, N-acetylglucosamine, glucose, galactose, glycerol, and phosphorus in an approximate molar ratio of 1:1:2:1:0.5:0.5, together with small amounts of glycopeptide components. TU-GP-II, accounting for about 9% of the cell walls, contained glucuronic acid, glucose, and fucose in a molar ratio of about 2:1.5:1, together with small amounts of glycopeptide components. The results of analyses involving Smith degradation, chromium oxidation, methylation, acetolysis, and H-NMR measurement led to the conclusion that the polysaccharide chain of TU-GP-I comprised repeating units,----6) Glc(alpha 1----3)-ManNAcUA(beta 1----4)[Gal(alpha 1----3)][Glc(beta 1----6)]GlcNAc(beta 1----. About half of the repeating units were substituted by glycerophosphoryl residues at C-6 of the beta-glucosyl residues linked to the N-acetylglucosamine residues. By means of a similar procedure, the polysaccharide chain of TU-GP-II was shown to comprise repeating units,----4)GlcUA(alpha 1----3)GlcUA(alpha 1----3)Glc(alpha 1----3)Fuc(alpha 1----, of which about half were substituted by alpha-glucosyl residues at C-3 of the 4-substituted glucuronosyl residues.     

Complete structure of the cell surface polysaccharide of Streptococcus oralis C104: a 600-MHz NMR study

Specific lectin-carbohydrate interactions between certain oral streptococci and actinomyces contribute to the microbial colonization of teeth. The receptor molecules of Streptococcus oralis, 34, ATCC 10557, and Streptococcus mitis J22 for the galactose and N-acetylgalactosamine reactive fimbrial lectins of Actinomyces viscosus and Actinomyces naeslundii are antigenically distinct polysaccharides, each formed by a different phosphodiester-linked oligosaccharide repeating unit. These streptococci all coaggregated strongly with both A. viscosus and A. naesludii strains, whereas S. oralis C104 interacted preferentially with certain strains of the latter species. Receptor polysaccharide was isolated from S. oralis C104 cells and was shown to contain galactose, N-acetylgalactosamine, ribitol, and phosphate with molar ratios of 4:1:1:1. The 1H NMR spectrum of the polysaccharide shows that it contains a repeating structure. The individual sugars in the repeating unit were identified by 1H coupling constants observed in E-COSY and DQF-COSY spectra. NMR methods included complete resonance assignments (1H and 13C) by various homonuclear and heteronuclear correlation experiments that utilize scalar couplings. Sequence and linkage assignments were obtained from the heteronuclear multiple-bond correlation (HMBC) spectrum. This analysis shows that the receptor polysaccharide of S. oralis C104 is a ribitol teichoic acid polymer composed of a linear hexasaccharide repeating unit containing two residues each of galactopyranose and galactofuranose and a residue each of GalNAc and ribitol joined end to end by phosphodiester linkages with the following structure. [----6)Galf(beta 1----3)Galp(beta 1----6)Galf(beta 1----6)GalpNAc(beta 1----3) Galp(alpha 1----1)ribitol(5----PO4-]n     

Structure of the linkage units between ribitol teichoic acids and peptidoglycan.

The structure of the linkage regions between ribitol teichoic acids and peptidoglycan in the cell walls of Staphylococcus aureus H and 209P and Bacillus subtilis W23 and AHU 1390 was studied. Teichoic acid-linked saccharide preparations obtained from the cell walls by heating at pH 2.5 contained mannosamine and glycerol in small amounts. On mild alkali treatment, each teichoic acid-linked saccharide preparation was split into a disaccharide identified as N-acetylmannosaminyl beta(1----4)N-acetylglucosamine and the ribitol teichoic acid moiety that contained glycerol residues. The Smith degradation of reduced samples of the teichoic acid-linked saccharide preparations from S. aureus and B. subtilis gave fragments characterized as 1,2-ethylenediol phosphate-(glycerolphosphate)3-N-acetylmannosaminyl beta(1----4)N- -acetylxylosaminitol and 1,2-ethylenediolphosphate-(glycerol phosphate)2-N-acetylmannosaminyl beta(1----4)N-acetylxylosaminitol, respectively. The binding of the disaccharide unit to peptidoglycan was confirmed by the analysis of linkage-unit-bound glycopeptides obtained from NaIO4 oxidation of teichoic acid-glycopeptide complexes. Mild alkali treatment of the linkage-unit-bound glycopeptides yielded disaccharide-linked glycopeptides, which gave the disaccharide and phosphorylated glycopeptides on mild acid treatment. Thus, it is concluded that the ribitol teichoic acid chains in the cell walls of the strains of S. aureus and B. subtilis are linked to peptidoglycan through linkage units, (glycerol phosphate)3-N-acetylmannosaminyl beta(1----4)N-acetylglucosamine and (glycerol phosphate)2-N-acetylmannosaminyl beta(1----4)N-acetylglucosamine, respectively.     

Characterization of a novel linkage unit between ribitol teichoic acid and peptidoglycan in Listeria monocytogenes cell walls

The structure of the linkage unit between ribitol teichoic acid and peptidoglycan in the cell walls of Listeria monocytogenes EGD was studied. A teichoic-acid--glycopeptide preparation isolated from lysozyme digests of the cell walls of this strain contained mannosamine, glycerol, glucose and muramic acid 6-phosphate in an approximate molar ratio of 1:1:2:1, together with large amounts of glucosamine and other components of teichoic acid and glycopeptides. A teichoic-acid-linked sugar preparation, obtained by heating the cell walls at pH 2.5, also contained glucosamine, mannosamine, glycerol and glucose in an approximate molar ratio of 25:1:1:2. Part of the glucosamine residues were shown to be involved in the linkage unit. Thus, on mild alkaline hydrolysis, the teichoic-acid-linked sugar preparation gave a disaccharide characterized as N-acetylmannosaminyl(beta 1----4)-N-acetylglucosamine [ManNAc(beta 1----4)GlcNAc] in addition to the ribitol teichoic acid moiety, whereas the teichoic-acid - glycopeptide was separated into disaccharide-linked glycopeptide and the ribitol teichoic acid moiety by the same procedure. Furthermore, Smith degradation of the cell walls gave a characteristic fragment, EtO2-P-Glc(beta 1----3)Glc(beta 1----1/3)Gro-P-ManNAc(beta 1----4)GlcNAc (where EtO2 = 1,2-ethylenediol and Gro = glycerol). The results lead to the conclusion that in the cell walls of this organism, the ribitol teichoic acid chain is linked to peptidoglycan through a novel linkage unit, Glc(beta 1----3)Glc(beta 1----1/3)Gro-P-(3/4)ManNAc-(beta 1----4)GlcNAc.     

Structure determination of five sialylated trisaccharides with core types 1, 3 or 5 isolated from bovine submaxillary mucin

In this study we have investigated the structures of five sialylated trisaccharides released from bovine submaxillary mucin by alkaline borohydride treatment and isolated by high-performance liquid chromatography. Three of the trisaccharides contained NeuAc while two contained NeuGc. One oligosaccharide contained core-type 1, two contained core-type 3 and two contained core-type 5. The structures, determined by a combination of one- and two-dimensional 1H-NMR spectroscopy at 270 MHz and methylation analysis involving gas-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, were as follows: A4b, GalNAc alpha(1----3) [NeuAc alpha(2----6)]GalNAcol; A4c, GlcNAc beta(1----3)[NeuAc alpha(2----6)]GalNAcol; A4d, Gal beta(1----3)[NeuAc alpha(2----6)]GalNAcol; A4e, GalNAc alpha(1----3)-[NeuGc alpha(2----6)]GalNAcol; A4f, GlcNAc beta(1----3)[NeuGc alpha (2----6)]GalNAcol. The oligosaccharides occurred in the approximate molar ratios 1.0:12.0:0.3:0.2:2.0. This is the first report of oligosaccharides containing core-type 5 and of the occurrence of oligosaccharides A4b, A4e, and A4f in bovine submaxillary mucin. 1H-NMR data for structure A4e, which is a novel structure, are presented for the first time.     

Primary structure determination of five sialylated oligosaccharides derived from bronchial mucus glycoproteins of patients suffering from cystic fibrosis. The occurrence of the NeuAc alpha(2----3)Gal beta(1----4)[Fuc alpha(1----3)] GlcNAc beta(1----.) structural element revealed by 500-MHz 1H NMR spectroscopy

The structure of sialylated carbohydrate units of bronchial mucins obtained from cystic fibrosis patients was investigated by 500-MHz 1H NMR spectroscopy in conjunction with sugar analysis. After subjecting the mucins to alkaline borohydride degradation, sialylated oligosaccharide-alditols were isolated by anion-exchange chromatography and fractionated by high performance liquid chromatography. Five compounds could be obtained in a rather pure state; their structures were established as the following: A-1, NeuAc alpha(2----3)Gal beta(1----4) [Fuc alpha(1----3)]GlcNAc beta(1----3)Gal-NAc-ol; A-2, NeuAc alpha(2----3)Gal beta(1----4)GlcNAc beta(1----6)-[GlcNAc beta (1----3)]GalNAc-o1; A-3, NeuAc alpha(2----3)Gal beta-(1----4)[Fuc alpha(1----3)]GlcNAc beta(1----3)Gal beta(1----3) GalNAc-o1; A-4, NeuAc alpha(2----3)Gal beta(1----4)[Fuc alpha(1----3)]Glc-NAc NAc beta(1----6)[GlcNAc beta(1----3)]GalNAc-o1; A-6,NeuAc alpha-(2----3) Gal beta(1----4)[Fuc alpha(1----3)]GlcNAc beta(1----6)[Gal beta-(1----4) GlcNAc beta(1----3)]GalNAc-o1. The simultaneous presence of sialic acid in alpha(2----3)-linkage to Gal and fucose in alpha(1----3)-linkage to GlcNAc of the same N-acetyllactosamine unit could be adequately proved by high resolution 1H NMR spectroscopy. This sequence constitutes a novel structural element for mucins.     

Structural study on teichoic acids of Listeria monocytogenes types 4a and 4d

The chemical compositions of the cell walls obtained from 10 strains (serotypes 1a, 3a, 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4e, 4f, 6, and 7) of Listeria monocytogenes were analyzed. These cell walls were shown to be mainly composed of peptidoglycan and ribitol teichoic acids. Considerable variations in the composition of neutral sugars were observed among these cell walls. Chemical and NMR analyses indicated that the teichoic acids from L. monocytogenes serotypes 4a and 4d are composed of the following repeating units: Formula: See Text.     

Structure and functions of linkage unit intermediates in the biosynthesis of ribitol teichoic acids in Staphylococcus aureus H and Bacillus subtilis W23

The stepwise formation and characterization of linkage unit intermediates and their functions in ribitol teichoic acid biosynthesis were studied with membranes obtained from Staphylococcus aureus H and Bacillus subtilis W23. The formation of labeled polymer from CDP-[14C]ribitol and CDP-glycerol in each membrane system was markedly stimulated by the addition of N-acetylmannosaminyl(beta 1----4)N-acetylglucosamine (ManNAc-GlcNAc) linked to pyrophosphorylyisoprenol. Whereas incubation of S. aureus membranes with CDP-glycerol and ManNAc-[14C]GlcNAc-PP-prenol led to synthesis of (glycerol phosphate) 1-3-ManNAc-[14C]GlcNAc-PP-prenol, incubation of B. subtilis membranes with the same substrates yielded (glycerol phosphate)1-2-ManNAc-[14C]GlcNAc-PP-prenol. In S. aureus membranes, (glycerol phosphate)2-ManNAc-[14C]GlcNAc-PP-prenol as well as (glycerol phosphate)3-ManNAc-[14C]GlcNAc-PP-prenol served as an acceptor for ribitol phosphate units, but (glycerol phosphate)-ManNAc-[14C]GlcNAc-PP-prenol did not. In B. subtilis W23 membranes, (glycerol phosphate)-ManNAc-[14C]GlcNAc-PP-prenol served as a better acceptor for ribitol phosphate units than (glycerol phosphate)2-ManNAc-[14C]GlcNAc-PP-prenol. In this membrane system (ribitol phosphate)-(glycerol phosphate)-ManNAc-[14C]GlcNAc-PP-prenol was formed from ManNAc-[14C]GlcNAc-PP-prenol, CDP-glycerol and CDP-ribitol. The results indicate that (glycerol phosphate)1-3-ManNAc-GlcNAc-PP-prenol and (glycerol phosphate)1-2-ManNac-GlcNAc-PP-prenol are involved in the pathway for the synthesis of wall ribitol teichoic acids in S. aureus H and B. subtilis W23 respectively.     

Structure of novel glyceroglycolipids in Adzuki bean (Vigna angularis) seeds

In addition to monoglycosyl diacylglycerol, three glyceroglycolipids with two to four hexose units were isolated from Adzuki bean seeds. Their structures were determined using enzymatic hydrolysis, permethylation analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and reversed-phase high pressure liquid chromatography, as folows: Gal(beta 1----3')- for the monoglycosyl diacyglycerol, Gal(alpha 1----6)-Gal(beta 1----3')- and Gal(beta 1----6)-Gal(beta1----3')- for the diglycosyl diacylglycerol, [Gal(beta 1----6]2-Gal(beta 1----3')- and Gal(beta 1----6)-Gal(alpha 1----6)-Gal(beta 1----3')- for the triglycosyl diacylglycerol, and [Gal(beta 1----6)]3-Gal(beta 1----3')- and [Gal(beta 1----6)]2-Gal(alpha 1----6)-Gal(beta 1----3')- for the tetraglycosyl diacylglycerol. Except for Gal(alpha 1----6)-Gal(beta 1----3')-diacylglycerol, all of the glycolipids with oligosaccharide moieties had novel glycosidic linkage patterns differing from those in the well-known glyceroglycolipids in nature. The predominant diacylglycerol species component was characterized as dilinolenin. However, the molecular species composition of the diacylglycerol moieties of the two diglycosyl isomers with different glycosidic linkage patterns were found to be qualitatively the same but different quantitatively, as follows: in the well-known isomer Gal(alpha 1----6)-Gal(beta 1----3')-, 39% dilinolenin, 15% palmitoyl linolenin, and 14% linoleoyl linolenin; and in the novel isomer Gal(beta 1----6)-Gal(beta 1----3')-, 35% dilinolenin, 24% dilinolein, and 21% linoleoyl linolenin.     

The presence of novel glucuronic acid-containing, type-specific glycolipid antigens within Mycobacterium spp. Revision of earlier structures

Previously, we had described the structures of the haptenic oligosaccharides of the surface glycopeptidolipid antigens from serotypes 9 and 25 of the Mycobacterium avium complex and had synthesized these units as putative antigenic probes. The lack of chemical concordance between the synthetic products and the haptens has prompted a re-examination of these structures utilizing the instrumental techniques not previously available of fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry, Fourier transform infra-red, and high resolution NMR spectroscopy. With the additional information thus available, more extensive chemical fragmentations by base degradation, followed by alkylation, have furnished supportive evidence to allow formulation of revised and novel structures, all of which contain glucuronic acid: serotype 9, 2,3-di-O-Me-L-Fucp(alpha 1----4)-D-GlcAp(beta 1----4)-2,3-di-O-Me-L-Fucp(alpha 1----3)-L-Rhap(alpha 1----2)-6dTal; and serotype 25, 4-acetamido-4,6-dideoxy-2-O-Me-hexosyl(alpha 1----4)-D- GlcAp(beta 1----4)2-O-Me-L-Fucp(alpha 1----3)-L-Rhap(alpha 1----2)6dTal. Glucuronic acid, acetamido sugars, and other novel sugars appear to be widespread in the glycopeptidolipid antigens of Mycobacterium spp. The revised structures will allow renewed synthesis of artificial antigen probes and rational approaches to preparing monoclonal antibodies, both necessary for the new diagnostics required to trace the sources of widespread infections due to M. avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare.     

The structure of the O-glycosidic oligosaccharide chains of the major Zajdela hepatoma ascites-cell-membrane glycoprotein

Glycoprotein MII2, the major cell surface glycoprotein (molecular mass 110 kDa) of Zajdela hepatoma ascites cells, contains about 25 O-glycosidic oligosaccharide chains per molecule. They were released as oligosaccharide-alditols by alkaline borohydride treatment of MII2, and purified by gel filtration on Bio-Gel P-6 followed by high-voltage paper electrophoresis. Four oligosaccharide-alditol fractions (A-D) were obtained in relative yields of 8:6:3:3. The structure of the components of fractions A-C was determined by 500-MHz 1H-NMR spectroscopy in combination with sugar composition analysis, to be as follows. (A) NeuAc alpha(2----3)Gal beta(1----3)[NeuAc alpha(2----3)Gal beta(1----4)GlcNAc beta(1----6)]GalNAc-ol; (B1) NeuAc alpha(2----3)Gal beta(1----3)[Gal beta(1----4)GlcNAc beta(1----6)]GalNAc-ol; (B2) Gal beta(1----3)[NeuAc alpha(2----3)Gal beta(1----4)GlcNAc beta(1----6)]GalNAc-ol; (C) NeuAc alpha(2----3)Gal beta(1----3)GalNAc-ol. On the basis of sugar composition and characteristics on Bio-Gel P-6 filtration, paper electrophoresis and thin-layer chromatography, the structure of the carbohydrate component of fraction D is proposed to be as follows. (D) NeuAc alpha(2----3)Gal beta(1----3)[NeuAc alpha(2----6)]GalNAc-ol     

New evidence of the substrate specificity of endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase D

The susceptibility of a variety of oligosaccharides to endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase D was investigated. The oligosaccharides having the structures of Man alpha 1----6 (GlcNAc beta 1----4Man alpha 1----3)Man beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----4(+/- Fuc alpha 1----6)GlcNAcOT, derived from complex type triantennary sugar chains, released +/- Fuc alpha 1----6GlcNAcOT upon incubation with the enzyme at almost the same rate as Man alpha 1----6(Man alpha 1----3)Man beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----4GlcNAcOT. When the reaction products were reduced with NaB3H4 and analyzed by Bio-Gel P-4 column chromatography, a new radioactive peak was detected in both cases. This new radioactive oligosaccharide was confirmed to be Man alpha 1----6(GlcNAc beta 1----4Man alpha 1----3)Man beta 1----4GlcNAcOT in the former case and Man alpha 1----6(Man alpha 1----3)Man beta 1----4GlcNAcOT in the latter. These results indicated that endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase D does not require the presence of a free hydroxyl group at the C-4 position of the alpha-mannosyl residue of the trisaccharide glycon: Man alpha 1----3Man beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----.     

Novel phosphonoglycosphingolipids containing pyruvylated galactose from the nervous system of Aplysia kurodai

We have reported the existence of a phosphonoglycosphingolipid containing a pyruvylated galactose, FGL-IIb, in nerve fibers of Aplysia kurodai (Araki, S., Abe, S., Ando, S., Kon, K., Fujiwara, N. & Satake, M. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 19922-19927). We have now isolated two other pyruvylated galactose-containing phosphonoglycosphingolipids, named FGL-V and FGL-IIa, from the nervous tissue of Aplysia, and characterized them as [3,4-O-(S-1-carboxyethylidene)]Gal beta 1----3GalNAc alpha 1----3[6'-O-(2- aminoethylphosphonyl)Gal alpha 1----2] (2-aminoethylphosphonyl----6) Gal beta 1----4Glc beta 1----1 ceramide and [3,4,O-(S-1-carboxyethylidene)] Gal beta 1----3GalNAc alpha 1----3[6'-O-(2-aminoethylphosphonyl)Gal alpha 1----2]Gal beta 1----4Glc beta 11----ceramide, respectively. Their major aliphatic components are palmitic acid, octadeca-4-sphingenine and anteisononadeca-4-sphingenine. Thus, the nervous system of Aplysia contains several pyruvylated phosphonoglycolipids.     

Cell wall teichoic acids from Streptomyces daghestanicus VKM Ac-1722T and Streptomyces murinus INA-00524T

The structure of cell wall teichoic acids was studied by chemical methods and NMR spectroscopy in the type strains of two actinomycete species of the "Streptomyces griseoviridis" phenetic cluster: Streptomyces daghestanicus and Streptomyces murinus. S. daghestanicus VKM Ac-1722T contained two polymers having a 1,5-poly(ribitol phosphate) structure. In one of them, the ribitol units had alpha-rhamnopyranose and 3-O-methyl-alpha-rhamnopyranose substituents; in the other, each ribitol unit was carrying 2,4-ketal-bound pyruvic acid. Such polymers were earlier found in the cell walls of Streptomyces roseolus and Nocardiopsis albus, respectively; however, their simultaneous presence in the cell wall has never been reported. The cell wall teichoic acid of Streptomyces murinus INA-00524T was is a 1,5-poly(glucosylpolyol phosphate), whose repeating unit was [-6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-glycerol phosphate-(3-P-]. Such a teichoic acid was earlier found in Spirilliplanes yamanashiensis. The 13C NMR spectrum of this polymer is presented for the first time. The results of the present investigation, together with earlier published data, show that the type strains of four species of the "Streptomyces griseoviridis" phenetic cluster differ in the composition and structure of their teichoic acids; thus, teichoic acids may serve as chemotaxonomic markers of the species.     

Somatic antigens of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The structure of the O-specific polysaccharide chains of P. aeruginosa O11 (Lányi) lipopolysaccharides

Lipopolysaccharides were isolated from the phenol layer on aqueous phenol extraction of cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa O11 (Lányi classification), strains 170021 and 170040. On mild acid degradation of the lipopolysaccharides, with the subsequent gel-filtration on Sephadex G-50, neutral O-specific polysaccharides made up of 6-deoxysugars alone were obtained. Two 2-acetamido-2,6-dideoxy-L-galactose (LFucNAc), 2-acetamido-2,6-dideoxy-D-glucose (DQuiNAc) and L-rhamnose (LRha) residues were found to be the components of the strain 170021 polysaccharide repeating units; those of strain 170040 contained the same monosaccharides, but, instead of 2-acetamido-2,6-dideoxy-D-glucose residue, that of 2-acetamido-2,6-dideoxy-D-galactose (DFucNAc) was present. On the basis of the 13C nuclear magnetic resonance data, methylation analysis and three successive Smith degradations the following structures were determined for the polysaccharide repeating units: strain 170021----2) LRha(alpha 1----3)LFucNAc(alpha 1----3)LFucNAc(alpha 1----3)DQuiNAc(beta 1----; strain 170040,----2)LRha(alpha 1----3)LFucNAc-(alpha 1----3)LFucNAc(alpha 1----3)DFucNAc(beta 1----; differing from one another by configuration of C-4 of 2-acetamido-2,6-dideoxy-D-hexopyranose only.     

Structure of the serotype f polysaccharide antigen of Streptococcus mutans

The structure of the serotype f polysaccharide antigen of Streptococcus mutans was determined by methylation analysis, periodate oxidation, and partial methanolysis, and the configuration of the anomeric linkages by 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy, indicating the trisaccharide repeating unit----3)-alpha-L-Rhap-(1----2)-[alpha-D-Glcp-(1----3)]-alpha-L-+ ++Rhap- (1----. The structure of the backbone of the polysaccharide was confirmed by demonstrating immunological identity between the product of Smith degradation of the S. mutans serotype f antigen and the group A-variant streptococcal polysaccharide.