Lipopolysaccharides of the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa

Eur J Biochem. 1983 Dec 1;137(1-2):333-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1983.tb07833.x.

Abstract

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of two isolates of Microcystis aeruginosa were extracted with phenol/water and purified. Cesium chloride gradient ultracentrifugation of these preparations yielded only one fraction. The LPS contained significant amounts of 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid, glucose, 3-deoxy sugars, glucosamine, fatty acids, fatty acid esters, hexoses, and phosphate. Heptose, a characteristic sugar component of the polysaccharide moiety of LPS of most gram-negative bacteria was absent. Lipopolysaccharides and lipid A hydrolysate of LPS preparations were active in mouse lethality and Limulus lysate gelation. The lipid A moiety was slightly less active in toxicity and Limulus lysate gelation assays than the intact LPS. The LPS and lipid A moiety of the two isolates of M. aeruginosa were less active in toxicity in mice and Limulus test than LPS of Salmonella abortus equi.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Centrifugation, Isopycnic
  • Chemical Phenomena
  • Chemistry
  • Endotoxins
  • Limulus Test
  • Lipid A / isolation & purification
  • Lipid A / toxicity
  • Lipopolysaccharides / isolation & purification*
  • Lipopolysaccharides / toxicity
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Microcystis / analysis*

Substances

  • Endotoxins
  • Lipid A
  • Lipopolysaccharides