title: Characterization of the group-specific polysaccharide of group B Streptococcus.
abstract: The group-specific polysaccharide of the group B Streptococcus was isolated by nitrous acid extraction followed by gel filtration on Sepharose 6B and chromatography on DEAE-Bio-Gel A. It was composed of rhamnose, galactose, N-acetylglucosamine, and glucitol phosphate. Mild periodate oxidation of the polysaccharide resulted in a rapid reduction in molecular weight, indicating that the glucitol was located in the backbone of the polymer. High-resolution 31P NMR showed the presence of a single type of phosphodiester bond in the molecule. Methylation analysis and several specific chemical degradations were done to determine sugar linkages. The basic structure of the group B polysaccharide consists of a backbone of 2-linked rhamnose, 2,4-linked rhamnose, and glucitol phosphate, and side chains of rhamnose(1----3)galactose(1----3)N-acetylglucosamine linked to the 4-position of a rhamnose in the backbone.
mesh_terms: D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D011232:Chemical Precipitation; D002621:Chemistry; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D007120:Immunochemistry; D010504:Periodic Acid; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D010504:Periodic Acid; C009288:metaperiodate