The structure of the O‐specific chain of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 lipopolysaccharide

Abstract

The O‐polysaccharide chain of Legionella pneumophila Philadelphia strain 1 (serogroup 1) lipopolysaccharide was investigated by means of 1H‐ and 13C‐NMR spectroscopy, and chemical analysis. It was found to consist of an α‐(2→4) interlinked homopolymer of a 5‐acetamidino‐7‐acetamido‐8‐O‐acetyl‐3,5,7,9‐tetradeoxy‐nonulosonic acid possessing most likely the d‐glycero‐l‐galacto configuration, representing the first example of an acidic homopolymer of a higher sugar of this class. The ladder‐like banding pattern exhibiting small distances between individual bands in the SDS/PAGE is compatible with a monosaccharide repeating unit. Copyright © 1994, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved