Evidence for the structural heterogeneity of the polysaccharide component of Coxiella burnetii strain Nine Mile lipopolysaccharide.
Highly purified lipopolysaccharide (LPS) preparation obtained from Coxiella burnetii strain Nine Mile in phase I was used to determine the structure and monosaccharide composition of the polysaccharide component. The procedure included sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by silver staining and gel chromatographic fractionation of acetic acid-hydrolyzed LPS. Five fractions (A-E) were analysed by GLC-mass spectrometry. D-Mannose and D-glycero-D-mannoheptose were present in an appreciable amount in all polysaccharide fractions (A-D), whereas the virenose and dihydrohydroxystreptose contents varied. The highest content of both rhamnose and ribose was found in the low-molecular weight polysaccharide fraction D. The former sugar is being reported for the first time to be a LPS constituent. D-Xylose and D-glucose content varied considerably in the individual fractions and was the highest in fraction A. Glucosamine and galactosaminuronic acid were present in all polysaccharide fractions and, surprisingly, L-glycero-D-mannoheptose was also found, but its presence was limited within the certain degree of polymerisation of the polysaccharide chains. Mild acid hydrolysis of LPS resulted in a partial release of dihydrohydroxystreptose and virenose residues, which were collected and identified in fraction E. The data presented indicate a strong microheterogenity within the individual polysaccharide chains with respect to their sugar composition, size, and shape. Thus, the chemical structure of Coxiella LPS appears to represent a significant departure from the structures described for enteric LPSs.
Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, C.S.F.R.
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Toman
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Kazár
D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D016997:Coxiella burnetii / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D014774:Virulence
D008070:Lipopolysaccharides