A teichoic acid of Nocardioides albus VKM Ac-805(T) cell walls

A teichoic acid of Nocardioides albus VKM Ac-805(T) cell walls, a typical s pecies of the genus Nocardioides, contains a poly(glycosylglycerol phosphat e). The repeating unit of the polymer has the structure: [GRAPHICS] These units are in phosphodiester linkage at C-3 of glycerol and C-3 of bet a-D-galactopyranose. beta-D-Galactopyranosyl residues are substituted at C- 4 by beta-D-glucopyranose carrying a 4,6-pyruvate ketal group in S-configur ation, The presence of pyruvic acid in the majority of repeating units incr eases the anionic properties of the polymer in comparison with most other c ommon teichoic acids. This is the first report of the occurrence of a beta- D-galactofuranosyl residue in teichoic acids; it probably acts as a termina tor of an extending chain of the polymer. The ratio of beta-D-galactopyrano syl to beta-D-galactofuranosyl units is 7:1, The polymer structure was dete rmined by NMR spectroscopy. This type of teichoic acid structure has not be en reported previously.