STRUCTURAL STUDIES OF THE EXTRACELLULAR POLYSACCHARIDE FROM BUTYRIVIBRIO FIBRISOLVENS STRAIN CF3

Authors: FERREIRA, FERNANDO - MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY; KENNE, LENNART - UPPSALA, SWEDEN; Cotta, Michael; STACK, ROBERT - GLYCOMED, ALAMEDA, CA

Submitted to: Carbohydrate Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/23/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Microorganisms can produce complex carbohydrate (sugar) molecules
called polysaccharides. Some of these polysaccharides, like
xanthan, are useful as food additives and have a variety of other
commercial applications. In previous work, we discovered that
strains of bacteria isolated from cattle produce polysaccharides
with unusual chemical and physical properties. In the current
study, we further determined the structure of a particular
polysaccharide made by one of these microorganisms. This
information will help to ascertain whether these polysaccharides
have potential commercial value.

Technical Abstract: The structure of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens strain CF3 capsular
polysaccharide has been investigated mainly by sugar and
methylation analysis, Smith degradation, NMR spectroscopy, and
mass spectrometry. The results suggest that the polysaccharide
is composed of pentasaccharide repeating units of altrose,
glucose, carboxyethyl glucose, and carboxyethyl galactose, with a
side group of glucose attached to the number 2 carbon of the
altrose unit.