Trihexosyldiacylglycerol and acyltrihexosyldiacylglycerol as lipid anchors of the lipoteichoic acid of Lactobacillus casei DSM 20021.

The lipoteichoic acid of Lactobacillus casei DSM 20021 was isolated. It consists of glycolipid and a poly(glycerophosphate), 37-44 units in length. The lipid portions can be released by treatment with hydrofluoric acid or acetic acid. They were determined to be 1,2-di-O-acyl-3-O-[O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 leads to 6)-O-alpha-D-galacto-pyranosyl-(1 leads to 2)-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl]glycerol and 1,2-di-O-acyl-3-O-[O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 leads to 6)-O-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-(1 leads to 2)-(6-O-acyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)]glycerol. Lipoteichoic acid with a third carbohydrate-linked fatty acid in the glycolipid portion represents a novel subclass.