Zuckerzusammensetzung des Lipopolysaccharids und Feinstruktur der äußeren Membran (Zellwand) bei Yersinia enterocolitica

Phenol-water extracted lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Yersinia enterocolitica (strain 75 in smooth form; O-group I), after growth at 10 °C, contains approximately 40% (w/w) 6-deoxy-L-altrose. By increasing the cultivation temperature a significant decrease in the O-specific sugar is observed. LPS from cells grown at 40 °C contains about 12% 6-deoxy-L-altrose.

Thin-section micrographs of cells grown at lower temperatures reveal a distinct layer corresponding to the O-specific side chains of LPS in contrast to cells grown at higher temperatures where a decrease in thickness is observed. It is assumed that this observation is due to the decreasing amount of the O-specific sugar at a higher cultivation temperature. The results obtained by the indirect immunoferritin test indicate that the O-specific polysaccharide layer covers the cell surface completely up to 37 °C. However, this layer no longer covers the entire surface of all cells as soon as an incubation temperature of 40 °C is applied.