TEICHOIC-ACID FROM THE CELL-WALL OF NOCARDIOPSIS SSP VKM AC-1457

Branched-chain teichoic acids containing glycerol phosphate oligomers bound to C-3 of some ribitol residues of the main 1,5-poly(ribitol pho sphate) chain were isolated from the cell wall of Nocardiopsis ssp. VK M Ac-1457. The polymers are heterogeneous and differ in the number of glycerol phosphate units in the side chains. The unique structure of t he polymers is demonstrated here for the first time and supports the d ata on the species-specificity of teichoic acids in the genus Nocardio psis reported earlier.