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

Solution properties of viilian, the exopolysaccharide from Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris SBT 0495

The exopolysaccharide (EPS) "viilian" was isolated from a large-batch fermentation of Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris SBT 0495. After applying a newly developed purification procedure, pure viilian with a weight-averaged molar mass of 2.64 x 10(3) kg/mol was obtained in a yield of 0.6 g/L culture broth. The native EPS, as well as lower molar mass fractions obtained by sonication of the native polymer, were studied by capillary viscometry and size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) coupled to multiangle laser light scattering detection (MALLS). From the viscosity data at various ionic strengths, we extracted a Mark-Houwink-Kuhn-Sakurada exponent a = 0.79, and a Smidsrod B value of 0.03. By application of the Hearst, Bohdanecký, and Odijk models for stiff polymer coils, in connection to the experimental viscosity data, we established the characteristic ratio to be C(infinity) = 44 and the intrinsic persistence length q(0) = 11.5 nm. The rms radii of gyration predicted from each of the models were in good agreement with the experimental radii (e.g., <S(2)>(1/2)(w) = 162 nm for native viilian in 0.2M NaNO(3)), as determined by SEC-MALLS. In addition, the Odijk model predicts correct ionic strength-linear charge density dependence of the rms radius of gyration. From the combined viscosity and SEC-MALLS experiments we concluded that, in dilute aqueous solutions, viilian behaves as an intermediately stiff, random coil polyelectrolyte system.

Structural elucidation of the capsular polysaccharide from Streptococcus pneumoniae type 18B

The structure of the capsular polysaccharide from Streptococcus pneumoniae type 18B has been determined using NMR spectroscopy and methylation analysis as the principal methods. It is concluded that the polysaccharide is composed of pentasaccharide repeating units with a glycerol phosphate substituting the 3-position of the branch point residue. The carbohydrate backbone in type 18B is identical to that in S. pneumoniae type 18F but without the O-acetyl groups present in that type. [formula: see text] In this structure, the absolute configuration of the glycerol phosphate moiety has not been determined but should be D, in analogy with that determined for the capsular polysaccharide from S. pneumoniae type 18A [T. Rundlöf, G. Widmalm, Anal. Biochem., 243 (1996) 228-233].

Structural studies of the exopolysaccharide produced by Lactobacillus paracasei 34-1

The exopolysaccharide produced by Lactobacillus paracasei 34-1 in a semi-defined medium was found to be a heteropolymer, composed of D-galactose, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galactose, and sn-glycerol 3-phosphate in molar ratios of 3:1:1. By means of deglycerophosphorylation, methylation analysis, and 1D/2D NMR studies (1H, 13C, and 31P) the polysaccharide was shown to consist of repeating units with the following structure: [formula: see text].

Determination of the structure of the exopolysaccharide produced by Lactobacillus sake 0-1

The exopolysaccharide produced by Lactobacillus sake 0-1 in a semi-defined medium was found to have an average molecular mass of 6 x 10(6) Da and a composition of D-glucose, L-rhamnose, and sn-glycerol 3-phosphate (3:2:1). The polysaccharide is partially O-acetylated. By means of partial acid hydrolysis, O-deacetylation, deglycerophosphorylation, methylation analysis, and 1D/2D NMR (1H, 13C, and 31P) studies the polysaccharide was shown to be composed of repeating units with the following structure: [formula: see text]

Structure of the extracellular polysaccharide from slime-forming Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris SBT 0495

The extracellular polysaccharide obtained from slime-forming Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris SBT 0495 is composed of D-glucose, D-galactose, L-rhamnose, and phosphate. Methylation analysis of the native and dephosphorylated polysaccharides provided information on the linkage of the sugar residues and the location of the phosphate group. N.m.r. spectroscopy confirmed the structure of the polysaccharide, which is assigned the following repeating-unit: [formula: see text]