Structural analysis of the core region of the lipopolysaccharides from eight serotypes of Klebsiella pneumoniae

The core regions of the lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from Klebsiella pneumonia e serotypes O1, O2a, O2a,c, O3, O4, O5, O8, and O12 were analysed using NMR spectroscopy, ESI-MS spectroscopy, and chemical methods. All the LPSs had similar core structures, as shown below, differing only in the number and p osition of beta -D-galacturonic acid substituents: [GRAPHICS] where P is H or alpha -Hep, J, K is H or beta -GalA. LPS from all serotypes contained varying proportions of structures having additional or missing p hosphate substituents. The core from serotype O1 contained a minor amount o f a previously described variant with alpha -DD-Hep-(1 --> 2)-alpha -DD-Hep -(1 -->6)-alpha -GlcN-(1 --> replacing the alpha -Hep-(1 -->4)-alpha -Kdo-( 2 -->6)-alpha -GlcN-(1 --> component. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All ri ghts reserved.