Structural studies of the capsular polysaccharide from Streptococcus pneumoniae type 18F

The structure of the capsular polysaccharide elaborated by Streptococcus pneumoniae type 18F (S18F) has been investigated by using n.m.r. spectroscopy, methylation analysis, and characterisation of oligosaccharides obtained on partial hydrolysis. It is concluded that the polysaccharide is composed of pentasaccharide repeating-units having the following structure. (formula; see text) In this structure, the absolute configuration of the glycerol phosphate moiety has not been determined, but is assumed to be D-glycerol 1-phosphate (sn-glycerol 3-phosphate). The location of an O-acetyl group at O-6 of the terminal alpha-D-glucopyranosyl groups is tentative only.