THE STRUCTURE OF THE O-SPECIFIC POLYSACCHARIDE OF HAFNIA-ALVEI STRAIN-1216

The O-specific polysaccharide of Hafnia alvei strain 1216 is composed of D-galactose, o-glucuronic acid, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose, 3,6-dideoxy-3-[(R)-3-hydroxybutyramido]D-glucose, and O-acetyl groups in the ratios 1:1:2:1:1. On the basis of sugar and methylation analyses of the intact and chemically degraded (O-deacetylated, carboxyl-reduced, Smith-degraded) polysaccharide and H-1 and C-13 NMR spectroscopy, including 2D shift-correlated (COSY, relayed COSY, C-13, H-1-COSY) and 1D NOE spectroscopy, it was concluded that the O-antigen is built up of linear pentasaccharide units having the following structure: [GRAPHICS] ucose over Cu(II) is employed. The results are discussed in terms of a possible mechanism of oxidation of D-glucose by CuOAc+, present in solution.