THE STRUCTURE OF THE O-SPECIFIC CHAIN OF LEGIONELLA-PNEUMOPHILA SEROGROUP-1 LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE

The O-polysaccharide chain of Legionella pneumophila Philadelphia stra in 1 (serogroup 1) lipopolysaccharide was investigated by means of H-1 - and C-13-NMR spectroscopy, and chemical analysis. It was found to co nsist of an alpha-(2-->4) interlinked homopolymer of a cetamido-8-O-ac etyl-3,5,7,9-tetradeoxy-nonulosonic acid possessing most likely the D- glycero-L-galacto configuration, representing the first example of an acidic homopolymer of a higher sugar of this class. The ladder-like ba nding pattern exhibiting Small distances between individual bands in t he SDS/PAGE is compatible with a monosaccharide repeating unit.