Novel cell-wall teichoic acid from Nocardiopsis albus subsp. albus as a species-specific marker

Abstract

Cell walls of the three Nocardiopsis albus subsp. albus strains, DSM 43377T, 43378 and 43120 contain structurally identical teichoic acids. The cell wall of each strain has three distinct types of teichoic acids: (1) unsubstituted 3,5-poly(ribitol phosphate), (2) 1,3-poly(glycerol phosphate) partially substituted at C-2 with α-N-acetylglucosamine residues, and (3) 1,5-poly(ribitol phosphate) with each ribitol unit 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 was elucidated by chemical analysis and NMR-spectroscopic methods. Structural identity of the teichoic acids from the three strains belonging to the same species may demonstrate the species-specificity of these polymers.