title: Capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of carbohydrate components of legionellae and other bacteria.
abstract: Capillary gas chromatography using fused-silica columns followed by electron impact or chemical ionization mass spectrometry was used to profile and identify neutral and amino sugars present in several legionellae and other bacteria. A modified alditol acetate derivatization method was employed to produce volatile carbohydrate derivatives. Muramic acid, a component of bacterial peptidoglycan, was detected in all legionellae examined. Heptose, a component of bacterial lipopolysaccharide, was identified in Escherichia coli organisms and in several purified Gram-negative bacterial lipopolysaccharides but not in the legionellae examined. Two amino dideoxyhexoses were found to be present in several of the Legionellae examined. The potential of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the direct chemical characterization of microorganisms is discussed.
mesh_terms: D000606:Amino Sugars / Q000032:analysis; D001419:Bacteria / Q000032:analysis*; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D007875:Legionella / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000606:Amino Sugars; D002241:Carbohydrates