Structure of the Escherichia coli 0104 polysaccharide and its identity with the capsular K9 polysaccharide

The 0104 antigen (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) of Escherichia coli has an acidic O specific polysaccharide. From the aqueous phase of a phenol water extraction of E. coli O104: K-, a fraction was obtained by ultracentrifugation and Cetavlon precipitation of the supernatant, which was enriched in long-chain LPS. Compositional analysis, NMR spectroscopy, periodate oxidation and methylation analysis showed that the polysaccharide chain of O104 LPS II consisted of galactose, N-acetylgalactosamine and neuraminic acid and acetate in the molar ratio of 2:1:1:1 and contained 3-beta Gal, 3-beta GalNAc, 4-alpha Gal, and 4-alpha(9-OAc-NeuNAc) in linear sequence. The same results were obtained with the capsular K9 polysaccharide from E. coli O9:K9, as presented here and reported previously (Dutton et al. (1987) Carbohydr. Res. 170, 193-206).