STRUCTURE OF THE ACETOBACTER-METHANOLICUS MB-129 CAPSULAR POLYSACCHARIDE, AND OF OLIGOSACCHARIDES RESULTING FROM DEGRADATION BY BACTERIOPHAGE-ACM7

The capsular polysaccharide of Acetobacter methanolicus MB 129 consist s of D-Glc, D-Gal, L-Rha, and L-glyceric acid in the molar ratios 1:1: 1:0.3. Periodate oxidation, methylation analysis, solvolysis with HF, and detailed H-1 and C-13 NMR analysis resulted in the structure of th e repeating unit shown below. [GRAPHICS] Bacteriophage Acm7-associated endo-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside hydrolase depolymerizes the CPS even in the presence of the O-acyl group, to give the respective hexa-, nona- , and dodeca-saccharides.