STRUCTURAL STUDIES OF VIBRIO-FLUVIALIS M-940 O-ANTIGEN POLYSACCHARIDE

The structure of the Vibrio fluvialis M-940 O-antigen polysaccharide h as been investigated by sugar and methylation analyses, specific degra dations, NMR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. It is proposed that it consists of a heptasaccharide unit having the following structure. alpha-L-Rhap-(1 --> 2)-alpha-L-Fucp-(1 --> 2)-alpha-D-Galp-(1 --> 2)-a lpha-L-Fucp-(1 --> 3)-beta-D-GlcpA-(1 --> 4)-alpha-L--Rhap-(1 --> 3)-b eta-D-GlcpNAc-(1 --> The heptasaccharide is most probably linked to th e 3-position of an alpha-D-galactopyranosyl residue in the core.