Core-lipid A on the K40 polysaccharide of Escherichia coli O8:K40:H9, a representative of group I capsular polysaccharides.
From the capsular K40 polysaccharide of E. coli O8:K40:H9, a fraction was obtained by gel permeation chromatography which in SDS-PAGE exhibited a ladder-like pattern characteristic of lipopolysaccharides. In Western blots, this fraction reacted with a K40-specific antiserum but not with an O8-specific antiserum. It contained, in addition to the constituents of the K40 polysaccharide (glucuronic acid, glucosamine and serine), glucose, galactose, heptose, and KDO. Mild acid hydrolysis of this fraction liberated a lipid moiety which by chemical analysis was characterized as lipid A. From these results, we conclude that the capsular polysaccharide of E. coli O8:K40:H9 is in part bound to core lipid A. The significance of this finding is discussed.
Jann
K
K
Max-Planck-Institut für Immunbiologie, Freiburg.
Dengler
T
T
Jann
B
B
D016667:Bacterial Capsules / Q000737:chemistry*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000737:chemistry*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D006868:Hydrolysis; D008050:Lipid A / Q000032:analysis*
D005227:Fatty Acids; D008050:Lipid A