Structural determination of the capsular polysaccharide produced by Klebsiella pneumoniae serotype K40. NMR studies of the oligosaccharide obtained upon depolymerisation of the polysaccharide with a bacteriophage-associated endoglycanase.

The Klebsiella pneumoniae K40 capsular polysaccharide has been isolated and investigated by use of methylation analysis, specific degradations and NMR spectroscopy. The polysaccharide was depolymerised by a bacteriophage-associated endogalactosidase, and the resulting oligosaccharide was characterised by one-dimensional and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy and direct chemical ionisation MS. The repeating unit of the K40 capsular polysaccharide was shown to be a linear hexasaccharide with the composition-->3)- alpha-L-Rhap-(1-->2)-alpha-L-Rhap-(1-->4)-alpha-D-GlcpA++ +-(1-->2-)- alpha-D-Manp-(1-->2)-alpha-D-Manp-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Galp-(1--> (Rha, rhamnose).