Structural analysis of the lipopolysaccharide from Chlamydophila psittaci strain 6BC.

The lipopolysaccaride of Chlamydophila psittaci 6BC was isolated from tissue culture-grown elementary bodies using a modified phenol/water procedure followed by extraction with phenol/chloroform/light petroleum. Compositional analyses indicated the presence of 3-deoxy-Dmanno-oct-2-ulosonic acid, GlcN, organic bound phosphate and fatty acids in a molar ratio of approximately 3. 3 : 2 : 1.8 : 4.6. Deacylated lipopolysaccharide was obtained after successive microscale treatment with hydrazine and potassium hydroxide, and was then separated by high performance anion-exchange chromatography into two major fractions, the structures of which were determined by 600 MHz NMR spectroscopy as alpha-Kdo-(2-->8)-alpha-Kdo-(2-->4)-alpha-Kdo-(2-->6)-beta-D-GlcpN -(1 -->6)-alpha-D-GlcpN 1,4'-bisphosphate and alpha-Kdo-(2-->4)-[alpha-Kdo-(2-->8)]-alpha-Kdo-(2-->4)-alpha-Kdo-(2- ->6)-beta-D-GlcpN-(1-->6)-alpha-D-GlcpN 1,4'-bisphosphate. The distribution of fatty acids in lipid A was determined by compositional analyses and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry experiments on lipid A and de-O-acylated lipid A. It was shown that the carbohydrate backbone of lipid A is replaced by a complex mixture of fatty acids, including long-chain and branched (R)-configured 3-hydroxy fatty acids, the latter being exclusively present in an amide linkage.