CAPSULAR POLYSACCHARIDES OF MARINE-BACTERIA OF THE GENUS ALTEROMONAS

Marine bacteria Alteromonas sp. 2ML 26 (KMM 156), Alteromonas sp. 2MM 6 (KMM 158), and Alteromonas sp. 2MC 12(KMM 155) were isolated from di fferent anatomical organs of the mussel Crenomytilus grayanus. All of these strains possessed capsules and belonged to the same species acco rding to data on DNA - DNA homology. The capsular polysaccharides were isolated and characterized. The following rare monosaccharides were i dentified in their composition: 2-amino-2-deoxy-L-guluronic acid and 3 ,6-deoxy-3-amino-D-galactose acylated with a residue of 4-hydroxybutyr ic acid; the latter monosaccharide had not been earlier found in bacte ria. The capsular polysaccharide of strain 2ML 26 consists of repeatin g tetrasaccharide units containing two residues of L-rhamnose, one res idue of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose, and one residue of 3-O-[(R)-1-c arboxyethyl]-D-glucose. The polysaccharide of strain 2MM 6 is built of repeating tetrasaccharide units containing residues of D-galactose, 2 -acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-1-guluronic acid, an d 3,6-deoxy-3-(4-hydroxybutyramido)-D-gala The capsular polysaccharide of Alteromonas sp. 2MC 12 is composed of repeating tetrasaccharide un its containing residues of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galactose, 2-acetamid o-2-deoxy-L-galacturonic acid, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-L-quinovose (bacill osamine), and 4-(N-acetylalanine)amino-3,6-dideoxy-D-glucose.