The repeating disaccharide unit of the mucopeptide of the cell wall of Mycobacterium smegmatis contains N-acetyl-glucosamine linked to N-glycolyl-muramic acid. This first identification of N-glycolyl-muramic acid as a natural product has been performed by mass spectrometry of the permethylated disaccharide. N-glycolyl muramic acid has been synthesized: the natural and synthetic products are identical.
Adam
A
A
Institut de Biochimie, Faculté des Sciences, 91, Orsay, France
Petit
J F.
JF
Wietzerbin-Falszpan
J
J
Sinay
P
P
Thomas
D W.
DW
Lederer
E
E