Structure of the serotype f polysaccharide antigen of Streptococcus mutans

Abstract

The structure of the serotype f polysaccharide antigen of Streptococcus mutans was determined by methylation analysis, periodate oxidation, and partial methanolysis, and the configuration of the anomeric linkages by 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy, indicating the trisaccharide repeating unit →3)-α-l-Rhap-(1→2)-[α-d-Glcp-(1→3)]-α-l-Rhap-(1→. The structure of the backbone of the polysaccharides was confirmed by demonstrating immunological identify between the product of Smith degradation of the S. mutans serotype f antigen and the group A-variant streptococcal polysaccharide.