Erythritolteichoic acid in the cell wall of <i>Glycomyces tenuis</i> VKM Ac‐1250

Abstract

The cell wall of Glycomyces tenuis VKM Ac-1250 contains the teichoic acid unusual for bacteria. The teichoic acid is a 1,4-poly(erythritol phosphate) chain composed of about 23 erythritol phosphate units, four or five of which have a 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-alpha-D- glucopyranosyl substituent at C2(3) of erythritol. The polymer contains O-acetyl groups. Its structure was identified by chemical analysis as well as 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopy. No teichoic acid containing a poly(erythritol phosphate) chain has yet been found in Gram-positive bacteria.