D-GLYCERO-D-MANNO-HEPTOSE AS A COMPONENT OF LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDES FROM GRAM-NEGATIVE BACTERIA

Abstract

Lipopolysaccharides have been isolated from seven species of Gram-negative bacteria and their acid hydrolysates have been examined by gas–liquid partition chromatography for the presence of aldoheptoses. All contained D-glycero-D-manno-heptose in addition to the well-known aldoheptose component L-glycero-D-manno-heptose. The relative proportions of these two aldoheptoses varied widely between species of bacteria and to a lesser extent between members of the same species. Both aldoheptoses were isolated from a lipopolysaccharide prepared from E. coli cells and were positively identified by physical and chemical methods. The chromatographic method used for determining the aldoheptoses also provided means for simultaneous detection of 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid (KDO).