The extracellular polysaccharide of Aerobacter aerogenes A3 (S1) (Klebsiella type 54)

Abstract

The extracellular slime polysaccharide of A. aerogenes A3 (S1) (Klebsiella type 54) was isolated and purified and shown to contain 3 main com-ponent sugars: D-glucose (50%), L-fucose (10%) and an unidentified uronic acid (29%). The bacterium was grown in the presence of a variety of carbohydrates as the sole C and energy source; the polysaccharides produced from each were isolated. The composition was found to be invariable. The implications of these findings upon the nature of heteropolysaccharide synthesis is discussed.