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Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Isolation and Chemical Characterization of Lipid A from Gram-negative Bacteria
Published on: September 16, 2013
Structural characterization of the major glycolipids from Arthrobacter globiformis and Arthrobacter scleromae
Mariola Paściak1, Patricia Sanchez-Carballo, Anna Duda-Madej
1Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Weigla 12, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland. pasciak@iitd.pan.wroc.pl
Abstract:
Arthrobacter is a genus of Gram-positive bacteria widely distributed in soil. The ability to catabolize a variety of xenobiotics has shown their potential as a detoxifying agent. Recently, Arthrobacter has been also recognized as an opportunistic pathogen. Glycolipids from A. scleromae, a clinical isolate, and A. globiformis, from soil, were isolated by chloroform-methanol extraction and subsequently purified using column chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. Structural studies were carried out utilizing specific chemical degradation, matrix-assisted laser-desorption/ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (MALDI FT ICR-MS), and 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The major glycolipids in A. scleromae and A. globiformis were found to be a diglycosylglycerol with the structure alpha-Manp-(1-->3)-alpha-Manp-(1-->3)-Gro (Man A-Man B-Gro; G1), and a monoglycosylglycerol with the structure beta-Galp-(1-->3)-Gro (G2). Glycolipids were acylated at positions 1 of Gro and 6 of Man B in the case of G1 and at positions 1 and 2 of Gro in the case of G2. The distribution of the fatty acids was different in both species. A. scleromae glycolipids contained heptadecanoic acid while in the A. globiformis glycolipids mainly pentadecanoic acid could be detected. The substitution by hexadecanoic acid was proportionally similar in both species. The taxonomical value of major glycolipids from Arthrobacter is also presented.
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