Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are major integral components of the outer membra
ne of Gram-negative bacteria being exclusively located in its outer leaflet
facing the bacterial environment. Chemically they consist in different bac
terial strains of a highly variable O-specific chain, a less variable core
oligosaccharide, and a lipid component, termed lipid A, with low structural
variability, LPS participate in the physiological membrane functions and a
re, therefore, essential for bacterial growth and viability. They contribut
e to the low membrane permeability and increase the resistance towards hydr
ophobic agents. They are also the primary target for the attack of antibact
erial drugs and proteins such as components of the host's immune response.
When set free LPS elicit, in higher organisms, a broad spectrum of biologic
al activities. They play an important role in the manifestation of Gram-neg
ative infection and are therefore termed endotoxins. Physico-chemical param
eters such as the molecular conformation and the charges of the lipid A por
tion, which is responsible for endotoxin-typical biological activities and
is therefore termed the 'endotoxic principle' of LPS, are correlated with t
he biological activity of chemically different LPS.