Determination of the structure and molecular weights of the exopolysaccharide produced by Lactobacillus acidophilus 5e2 when grown on different carbon feeds.

Lactobacillus acidophilus 5e2 when grown on skimmed milk, skimmed milk supplemented with sodium formate and skimmed milk supplemented with glucose secretes a branched heteropolysaccharide having a weight average molecular weight less than 450 kDa. The exopolysaccharide has a heptasaccharide repeat unit and is composed of D-glucose, D-galactose and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine in the molar ratio 3:3:1. Using chemical techniques and 1D and 2D-NMR spectroscopy the polysaccharide has been shown to possess the following repeat unit structure: