Structural determination of Streptococcus pneumoniae repeat units in serotype 41A and 41F capsular polysaccharides to probe gene functions in the corresponding capsular biosynthetic loci

- Structures were obtained for serotype 41A and 41F capsular polysaccharides.
- Serotype 41A lacks an acetyltransferase (WcrX) acting on a rhamnopyranosyl sidechain.
- Genes encoding the formation of all glycosidic bonds in serogroup 41 were annotated.
- NMR spectroscopy simplifies functional annotations of carbohydrate active enzymes.