ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A NEW EXTRACELLULAR POLYSACCHARIDE FROM AN ACETOBACTER SPECIES

An expolysaccharide (EPS)-producing strain of the genus Acetobacter (n amed IFR 101) was isolated from a commercial vinegar acidifier. IFR 10 1 can be grown over the pH range 3.0-8.0 and the temperature range 12- 35 degrees C, and is ethanol-tolerant to 10% v/v. Neutral sugar analys is of the purified EPS indicates the presence of the sugars mannose, g alactose and glucose. Methylation studies and NMR data suggest that th e EPS may either be a complex branched polysaccharide or a mixture of simpler linear and branched structures, Aqueous preparations of IFR 10 1 exhibit reversible shear-thinning behaviour.