Studies on the chemical structure of the core-lipid A region of the lipopolysaccharide of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus NCTC 10305. Detection of a new 2-octulosonic acid interlinking the core oligosaccharide and lipid A component

Abstract

Lipopolysaccharide of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus NCTC 10305 was treated with acid (0.1 M HCl, 100.degree.C, 1 h). The product obtained (LPSdegr) was subjected to various modification and degradation procedures including reduction, hydrazinolysis and strong acid hydrolysis. Methylation analysis of purified part structures revealed the presence of a 4''-phosphorylated (.beta.1''-6)-linked D-glucosamine disaccharide (lipid A backbone), which carried in position 6'' a hitherto unknown 2-octulosonic acid (OclA) in highly acid-stable linkage. It was further shown that OclA is substituted in position 5 by a glucose tetramer, the reducing residue of which is phosphorylated. The hydrophilic region of the LPSdegr could thus be characterized as a phosphorylated heptasaccharide.