Structural studies of the capsular polysaccharide of Klebsiella type 59

The structure of the capsular polysaccharide from Klebsiella type 59 has been investigated by methylation analysis, a modified Smith-degradation procedure, and uronic acid degradation followed by oxidation and elimination of the substituents of the oxidized residue. The oligomeric fragments produced by these degradative procedures were isolated and characterized. O-Acetyl groups were identified and their position determined. The polysaccharide consists of the following pentasaccharide repeating-unit (dotted lines indicate that only some of the residues carry the O-acetyl substituent). See article.