D-Rhamnan and Pyruvate-Containing Teichuronic Acid from the Cell Wall of Rathayibacter sp. VKM Ac-2759.

Rathayibacter sp. VKM Ac-2759 (family Microbacteriaceae, class Actinobacteria) contains two glycopolymers in the cell wall. The main chain of rhamnan, glycopolymer 1, is built from the repeating tetrasaccharide units carrying terminal arabinofuranose residues at the non-reducing end, →3)-α-[α-D-Araf-(1→2)]-D-Rhap-(1→2)-α-D-Rhap-(1→3)-α-D-Rhap-(1→2)-α-D-Rhap-(1→. Similar to other described Rathayibacter species, rhamnose in the neutral glycopolymer of the VKM Ac-2759 strain is present in the D-configuration. Acetalated with pyruvic acid teichuronic acid, glycopolymer 2, is composed of the repeating tetrasaccharide units, →4)-ß-D-GlcpA-(1→4)-ß-D-Galp-(1→4)-ß-D-Glcp-(1→3)-ß-[4,6-S-Pyr]-D-Manp-(1→. Glycopolymers 1 and 2 were identified in prokaryotic microorganisms for the first time and their structures were established by chemical analysis and NMR spectroscopy. The obtained data can be used in taxonomic research, as well as for elucidating the mechanisms of plant colonization and infection by bacteria of the Rathayibacter genus.