Structure and genetics of the O-antigen of Escherichia coli O158

A structure of the O-polysaccharide (O-antigen) of Escherichia coli O158 has been reported (Datta, A. K.; Basu, S.; Roy, N. Carbohydr. Res. 1999, 322, 219-227). In this work, we reinvestigated the O158 polysaccharide using sugar analyses, Smith degradation, and 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy and established the following structure, which is at variance with the structure established earlier:This structure is in agreement with the predicted functions of genes found in the O-antigen gene cluster of E. coli O158.