title: Different sugar compositions of lipopolysaccharides isolated from phase I and pure phase II cells of Coxiella burnetii.
abstract: The compositions of lipopolysaccharides I and II, isolated from Coxiella burnetii phase I and pure phase II cells, respectively, showed drastic and clear-cut differences. Lipopolysaccharide II exhibited a comparatively simple composition. It contained, in addition to glucosamine (from lipid A) and a 2-keto-3-deoxyoctulosonic acid-related, thiobarbituric acid-positive substance, only two aldoses in high amounts, namely D-mannose and D-glycero-D-mannoheptose. Lipopolysaccharide I contained the same components, but it also contained at least eight other constituents including neutral sugars, e.g., an unusual branched sugar (3-C-methyl-6-deoxy-hexose) and unusual aminohexoses. Some components were characterized by a very high retention time in gas-liquid chromatography. The similarity of the phase variation in C. burnetii to the well-known smooth-to-rough mutation found in Enterobacteriaceae is discussed. Cells of phase I correspond to enterobacterial smooth forms, whereas cells of phase II might be compared to the rough forms.
mesh_terms: D000606:Amino Sugars / Q000032:analysis; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D003381:Coxiella / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D004586:Electrophoresis; D005944:Glucosamine / Q000032:analysis; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000032:analysis*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010504:Periodic Acid
chemical_list: D000606:Amino Sugars; D002241:Carbohydrates; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010504:Periodic Acid; D005944:Glucosamine