NOVEL CELL-WALL TEICHOIC-ACID FROM NOCARDIOPSIS-ALBUS SUBSP ALBUS AS A SPECIES-SPECIFIC MARKER

Cell walls of the three Nocardiopsis albus subsp. albus strains, DSM 4 3377(T), 43378 and 43120 contain structurally identical teichoic acids . The cell wall of each strain has three distinct types of teichoic ac ids: (1) unsubstituted 3,5-poly(ribitol phosphate), (2) 1,3-poly(glyce rol phosphate) partially substituted at C-2 with alpha-N-acetylglucosa mine residues, and (3) 1,5-poly(ribitol phosphate) with each ribitol u nit carrying a 2,4-pyruvate ketal group. Types 1 and 3 are reported in prokaryotes for the first time. The structure of the teichoic acids w as elucidated by chemical analysis and NMR-spectroscopic methods. Stru ctural identity of the teichoic acids from the three strains belonging to the same species may demonstrate the species-specificity of these polymers.