title: Naturally-evolved changes in bacterial polysaccharides.
abstract: Major roles suggested for extracellular polysaccharides are as antigens, 'phage receptor sites or for protecting cells against dehydration. The evolution of bacterial species has led to a large number of bacterial polysaccharides with complex chemical repeat units. There is growing evidence that such structures may be grouped into families of polymers differing in only small changes in chemical structure. Physico-chemical studies of such families are starting to reveal which variations are important in changing the functional properties of the polymers.
authors.affiliation: AFRC Institute of Food Research, Norwich Laboratory, UK.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Miles
authors.forename: V J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Morris
mesh_terms: D005075:Biological Evolution; D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000502:physiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial