Structural studies of the capsular polysaccharide of Klebsiella type 81

Abstract

The structure of the capsular polysaccharide from Klebsiella type 81 has been investigated. Methylation analysis, uronic acid degradation, Smith degradation, and graded acid hydrolysis were the principle methods used. The anomeric nature of the glycosidic linkages was determined by characterization of fragments obtained from the various methods of degradation used. One of the L-rhamnosidic linkages was not present in any of these fragments, but is assumed to be an α-linkage from considerations of optical-rotation data. These studies show that the polysaccharide consists of the following hexasaccharide repeating-unit: →2)-α- L-Rha p-(1→3)-α- L-Rha p-(1→4)-β- D-GlcA p-(1→2)-α- L-Rha p-(1→3)-α- L-Rha p(1→3)-β- D-Gal p-(1→.