Structure of the O-specific polysaccharide of Hafnia alvei 1204 containing 3,6-dideoxy-3-formamido-D-glucose.

The O-specific polysaccharide of Hafnia alvei strain 1204 has a hexasaccharide repeating unit containing D-mannose, D-glucuronic acid, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galactose, and 3,6-dideoxy-3-formamido-D-glucose (Qui3NFo) in the ratios 2:1:1:1:1 as well as O-acetyl groups. On the basis of methylation analysis of the intact, carboxyl-reduced, and Smith-degraded polysaccharide as well as 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, including 1D total correlation spectroscopy, 1D NOE spectroscopy, 2D homonuclear shift-correlated spectroscopy (COSY), and 13C,1H heteronuclear COSY, the following structure of the O-deacetylated polysaccharide was established: -->3)-alpha-D-Manp-(1-->2)-alpha-D-Manp-(1-->3)-beta-D-GlcpN Ac-(1--> -->2)-beta-D-Quip3NFo-(1-->3)-alpha-D-GalpNAc-(1-->4)-alpha-D-G lcpA-(1--> Location of the N-formyl group, occurring as two stereoisomers in the ratio approximately 3:1, was determined by an NOE on H-3 Qui3N arising on pre-irradiation of HCO of the minor (E) isomer. The O-acetyl groups are attached in nonstoichiometric amounts at position 3 of GlcA and position 6 of a mannose residue or GlcNAc.