Composition and biological properties of lipopolysaccharides isolated from Schizothrix calcicola (Ag.) Gomont (Cyanobacteria).

The most common cyanobacterium contaminating drinking water systems in southwestern Pennsylvania is Schizothrix calcicola. Lipoplysaccharides (LPS) were isolated from this species by hot phenol-water extraction. The polysaccharide moiety was composed of glucosamine, galactose, glucose, mannose, xylose and rhamnose. The lipid A part contained beta-hydroxylauric, myristic, pentadecanoic, palmitic, beta-hydroxypalmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acids. In contrast to many LPS isolated from Enterobacteriaceae, the dominant component was not beta-hydroxymyristic but beta-hydroxypalmitic acid. The LPS induced Limulus lysate gelation and Schwartzman reaction but was nontoxic to mice. The identity of LPS was verified by alkali and lysozyme treatment. The results suggest that S. calcicola is one of the principal sources of endotoxins in water systems using open finished-water reservoirs.