Extracellular Polysaccharides and Classification of the Genus Lipomyces

Abstract

Strains classified as Lipomyces lipoferus and_L. starkeyi produce specific extracellular acidic heteropolysaccharides. The polymer from L. lipoferus contains mannose and glucuronic acid; the polymer from L. starkeyi contains, in addition, galactose and a trisaccharide. This trisac-charide is composed of mannose and glucuronic acid in the molar ratio 1:2. The difference in polysaccharide composition may be the most significant physiological basis yet discovered for separation of species in the genus Lipomyces..