[(252)Cf-plasma desorption mass spectra of bacterial oligosaccharides]

252Cf plasma desorption mass spectrometry on a "reflect" desorption instrument (MSBX) was used to study oligosaccharides from bacterial O-specific antigenic chains. The data obtained for galacturonic acid, neutral and aminouronic oligosaccharides are discussed. This method is suggested for determining the composition of oligosaccharides from the O-specific polysaccharides and for elucidating their structures after modifications.