[Structure of an O-specific polysaccharide of Proteus mirabilis 03, containing N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-D-alanine]

O-Specific polysaccharide, obtained by mild acid degradation of the Proteus mirabilis 03 lipopolysaccharide, was dephosphorylated with 48% HF to give a linear polysaccharide and an amino acid, N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-D-alanine. The structure of the polysaccharide was determined by methylation, the Smith degradation and computer-assisted analysis of the 13C NMR spectra of original and dephosphorylated polymers and oligomers. The structure of the amino acid was elucidated by using 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry (applied to the acetylated methyl ester derivative), optical rotation and CD spectrum data and comparison with the synthetic sample. The repeating unit of P. mirabilis 03 O-specific polysaccharide is shown to have the following structure: (formula; see text)