Macromolecular and solution properties of Cepacian: the exopolysaccharide produced by a strain of Burkholderia cepacia isolated from a cystic fibrosis patient.

Abstract

Light scattering and viscosity measurements were carried out on the previously chemically characterised exopolysaccharide produced by a strain of Burkholderia cepacia isolated from a cystic fibrosis patient. The same exopolysaccharide was also produced by other clinical strains in different laboratories. Therefore, the name Cepacian is now proposed for this exopolysaccharide. Experiments performed as a function of the ionic strength on the native polymer revealed a change in the overall shape of the polymer at low ionic strength. This behaviour was absent in the de-acetylated sample. Potentiometric titrations and light scattering experiments carried out on the acidic form of the native polymer revealed the formation of macromolecular aggregates with a stoichiometry n and 2n stabilised by interactions involving the uronic acid residues.

• Authors: Paola Sist, Paola Cescutti, Silvia Skerlavaj, Ranieri Urbani, Jorge H Leitão, Isabel Sá-Correia, Roberto Rizzo
• Journal: Carbohydrate research (Carbohydr Res) Vol. 338 Issue 18 Pg. 1861-7 (Sep 01 2003) ISSN: 0008-6215 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 12932369 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Acetates
• Chlorates
• Polysaccharides, Bacterial
• cepacian
• Sodium Hydroxide
• sodium chlorate

Topics

• Acetates (chemistry)
• Burkholderia cepacia (chemistry, metabolism)
• Carbohydrate Conformation
• Chlorates (chemistry)
• Circular Dichroism
• Cystic Fibrosis (complications, microbiology)
• Humans
• Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
• Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
• Molecular Weight
• Polysaccharides, Bacterial (chemistry, isolation & purification)
• Scattering, Radiation
• Sodium Hydroxide (chemistry)
• Temperature
• Titrimetry
• Viscosity