EXOCELLULAR ALGINIC ACID FROM AZOTOBACTER VINELANDII

Abstract

Azotobactervinelandii produces a partly acetylated exocellular polysaccharide which consists mainly of D-mannuronic acid units and a small proportion of L-guluronic acid units. It resembles alginic acid since it contains 4-O-linked mannuronosyl residues and guluronosyl residues which are 4-O- and (or) 5-O-linked. The specific rotation of bacterial sodium alginate is close to that of its algal counterpart, thus suggesting that the glycosidic configurations are similar.