| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1383821 | Carbohydrate Research | 2013 | 4 Pages |
•Brucella is an important human and animal pathogen.•Polysaccharide antigens of Brucella contain two epitopes called A and M.•Corrected structure of the A and M epitopes is proposed based on NMR and MS data.
O-Specific polysaccharides of Brucella contain two antigenic determinants, called A and M. Most of the strains express epitope A with a small amount of epitope M, whereas Brucella melitensis strain 16 M expresses longer polymer consisting mostly of M-type epitopes. Proposed explanation was that epitope A is defined by 1-2-linked homopolymer of N-formylperosamine (Rha4NFo), while epitope M is a pentasaccharide with four 2- and one 3-substituted Rha4NFo. We reinvestigated both types of structures by 2D NMR and showed that M-epitope is a tetrasaccharide, missing one of the 2-linked Rha4NFo as compared to the previously proposed structure. Polysaccharide from B. melitensis 16 M contains a fragment of 1-2-linked polymer, capped with M-type polymer. Other strains contain one or two M-type units at the non-reducing end of the 1-2-linked O-chain.
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