Graded hydrolysis studies on Pneumococcus Type IX capsular polysaccharide

Abstract

Mild acid hydrolysis of the capsular polysaccharide of Pneumococcus type IX (S IX) liberated a number of oligosaccharides which were separated into basic, acidic, and neutral fractions using ion-exchange column chromatography. Each fraction was further separated into its constituent oligosaccharides using high-voltage electrophoresis. The individual oligosaccharides were subjected to methylation studies; when uronic acid was present the methylated oligomer was reduced and the methyl sugars in it were characterised. Based on these studies structures were assigned to the oligomers. The five oligosaccharides characterised support the structure assigned to the repeating unit of S IX.