Abstract
The structure of an acidic polysaccharide elaborated by Bacillus polymyxa S-4 was investigated in relation to its physiological activity, particularly, its hypocholesterolemic effect on experimental animals. The polysaccharide is composed of D-glucose, D-mannose, D-galactose, D-glucuronic acid, and D-mannuronic acid (molar ratio 3:3:1:2:1). Methylation and fragmentation analyses, such as Smith degradation and partial acid hydrolysis showed that the polysaccharide has a complicated, highly branched structure, consisting mainly of (1→3)- and (1→4)-D-glycosidic linkages. The backbone chain containing D-glucuronic acid, D-mannose, and D-galactose residues is attached at the C-3, C-4, and C-4 positions, respectively, with side chains of single or a few carbohydrate units, which are terminated with D-glucose or D-mannose residues.
