Partial characterization of Pseudomonas phage 2 receptor.

The lipopolysacharide from Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain BI contains the receptors for phage 2 and strongly inactivates this phage in vitro (95-98% within 15 min). Several mono- and di-saccharides tested reduced phage 2 inactivation to 50% when present at the following concentrations: D-glucosamine, 0.25 M; maltose, 0.3M; lactose and cellobiose, 0.5 M; D-glucose, L-rhamnose, D-mannose, 2-deoxy-D-glucose, and sucrose, 1.0 M; D-galactose, D-xylose, and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, 1.4 M; and melibiose. greater than 1.6 M. These results suggest the possibility that phage 2 receptors in lipopolysaccharide contain L-rhamnose, D-glucosamine, and (or) D-glucose, or a structurally related molecule. Either one of the latter two could be located at a terminal position alpha-linked to the adjacent residue, or located internally in the polysaccharide chain linked through its C-4 position.