Cell wall teichoic acids of Actinomadura viridis VKM Ac-1315T

Abstract

The cell walls of Actinomadura viridis contain poly(glycosylglycerol phosphate) chains of complex structure. On the basis of NMR spectroscopy of the polymer and glycosides thereof the following structural units were found: β-D-Galp3Me-(1→4)[β-D-Glcp-(1→6)]-β-D-Galp-(1→1)-snGro (G1); β-D- Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→1)snGro (G2); β-D-Galp3Me-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→)- snGro (G2a); β-D-Galp-(1→1)-snGro (G3); β-D-Galp-(1→1)[β-D-Galp-(1→2)]- snGro (G4); β-D-Glcp-(1→2)-snGro (G5). Glycosides G1, G2 and G3 were the predominant components of the teichoic acid: they formed the polymer chain via phosphodiester bonds involving C-3 of the glycerol residue and C-3 of the galactosyl residue which in turn glycosylates C-1 of the glycerol residue. Whether the different glycosides make up the one chain or whether there are several poly(glycosylglycerol phosphate) chains in the cell wall remains to be determined. It was suggested that the minor component G5 is located at the nonterminal end of the chains. Compound G4 which contains disubstituted glycerol resudues (unusual for the teichoic acid) was also found as a minor component; this may be the glycoside of a new type of teichoic acid, or a glycoside on the terminal end of the above mentioned chains. In addition, small amounts of 1,3-poly(glycerol phosphate) chains were found in the cell wall.