LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDES OF LEGIONELLA-ERYTHRA AND LEGIONELLA-OAKRIDGENSIS

The chemical composition of lipopolysaccharides from Legionella erythr a and Legionella oakridgensis was analysed. Sodium dodecyl sulfate po lyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed both lipopolysaccharides to ha ve a smooth-type character. The polysaccharide part of both lipopolysa ccharides contained D-mannose, D-glucose, D-glycero-D-mannoheptose, L- glycero-D-manno-heptose, 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonic acid, L-fucosamine, D-g lucosamine, and glucosamine phosphate. In addition, L-rhamnose, glycer ol phosphate, and glucosephosphate were identified in the polysacchari de part of L. erythra lipopolysaccharide. The main sugar identified in the lipid A part of both lipopolysaccharides, 2,3-diamino-2,3-dideoxy -D-glucose, was found to be substituted with a complex fatty acid comp osition including at least 16 different amide-linked 3-hydroxy fatty a cids. Both lipopolysaccharides contained nonhydroxy fatty acids and th e uncommon 27-oxo-octacosanoic acid, 29-oxotriacontanoic acid, and 27- hydroxyoctacosanoic acid. The lipopolysaccharide of L. oakridgensis al so contained 29-hydroxytriacontanoic acid. The dioic long-chain acids heptacosane-1,27-dioic acid and nonacosane-1,29-dioic acid were only p resent in the lipopolysaccharide of L. erythra.