A New Polysaccharide Resembling Alginic Acid Isolated from Pseudomonads

Abstract

Polysaccharides isolated from slime-producing Pseudomonas organisms were found to contain mannuronic and guluronic acid only.The polymers closely resemble alginic acid, a seaweed polysaccharide, as shown by composition, infrared spectra, and alginase digestion.The new polysaccharides from Pseudomonas appear to contain O-acetyl groups, which are not known to be present in the alginates.'About I mg of sample is placed in the center of an Irtran window (Perkin-Elmer), and several drops of water are added.The sample is allowed to dissolve, and then is smeared over the central part of the plate and dried at room temperature.The authors would like to thank Donald P. McNamara for developing this simple and rapid technique.