Thin-layer chromatography of endotoxins, their derivatives and contaminants

Thin-layer chromatographic (TLC) separation techniques were used to analyze the heterogeneity of various preparations which included smooth and rough endotoxins (ET), Lipid A precipitates and synthetic Lipid A samples and a novel cytotoxic bacterial lipid. Furthermore, carbohydrate-rich split products (PS) of ET were also separated on commercial silica-coated plates. Satisfactory results were obtained by two-dimensional TLC or by the combination of chromatography followed by high-voltage electrophoresis in the separation of PS of ET cleaved by mild acetic hydrolysis. Several spray reagents were found which were eminently suitable to detect carbohydrate containing compounds. Less specific but generally useful spray reagents were also developed which gave strong color reactions with lipids, proteinaceous and carbohydrate containing split products of the ET preparations. Improved chromatographic resolution has also revealed substantial heterogeneity in both rough and smooth ET samples. Three biological activities of the separated components could be determined. These were antigenicity detected by reactivity with monoclonal antibodies on the TLC plates, endotoxicity, determined by the Limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL) test and direct cytotoxicity of P815 cells in vitro. Considerable amounts of non-endotoxic and non-antigenic contaminants could be detected in all preparations tested. Significant amounts of free Lipid A were also found in smooth ETs. Thus a new level of complexity is recognized by TLC within these preparations.

Glycolipid induced proliferation of lipopolysaccharide hyporesponsive C3H/HeJ splenocytes

Although the C3H/HeJ mouse is hyporesponsive to lipopolysaccharides (LPS), certain forms of the lipid A fraction have been shown to stimulate cells from this mouse strain. To determine the role of the oligosaccharide chain length on the lipid A-induced proliferation of C3H/HeJ splenocytes, a panel of glycolipids from R-chemotypes (Re, Rc, and Rd) and a nontoxic monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) were tested. The MPL cells isolated from the MPL of Salmonella minnesota, Salmonella typhimurium, and the Reglycolipids isolated from Escherichia coli were found to be effective at stimulating the LPS-hyporesponsive spleen cells. A Re-glycolipid isolated from a different strain of E. coli cells was inactive, as were the S. minnesota Rc and Rd chemotypes. Proliferation induced by MPL and the active Re preparations was dose dependent and was inhibited by polymyxin B. Thus, if contamination of the Re-LPS or MPL with lipid A-associated protein occurred, it was below functional levels. The data suggest that the C3H/HeJ spleen cells are capable of responding to certain glycolipids, but they may lack the ability to convert native LPS into a stimulatory signal. In addition, a monosaccharide precursor of lipid A (lipid X), and a monoacyl glucosamine phospholipid derivative of lipid X (MaGP), were capable of inhibiting the proliferation induced by the MPL and Re-glycolipids. These data are compatible with the existence of a spleen cell receptor for lipid A.

Chemical and immunochemical studies on lipopolysaccharides of Coxiella burnetii phase I and phase II

Lipopolysaccharides of Coxiella burnetii phase I and II were comparatively investigated by chemical and immunochemical methods. LPS of phase I (LPS I) and phase II cells (LPS II) show no serological cross reaction, indicating that the serological determinants of LPS II are masked in LPS I. Chemical analysis of LPS I and II show that phase I and II cells can be considered as S and R forms of Coxiella burnetii. The structure of LPS II has recently been elucidated and shows a dimannosylated core of an alpha(1,3)-linked heptose-disaccharide which is attached to a "KDO-like" substance. In enterobacterial core-types, alpha(1,3)-linked heptose-disaccharide is also part of the inner core structure, although the heptose occurring in enterobacterial R cores is the L-glycero-D-manno-heptose. In Coxiella burnetii we have only the rare D-glycero-D-manno-heptose which is the biosynthetic precursor of the former and is in many enteric LPS, present only in addition to L-glycero-D-mannoheptose. In these R-cores, it is occupying mostly terminal positions (Radziejewska-Lebrecht et al., 1981) and is absent from the main chain. The complete structure of LPS I is not yet available, but some important points could recently be clarified. The immunodominant sugars in LPS I are C-3-branched sugars, 6-deoxy-3-C-methyl-L-gulose (L-virenose) and 3-C-(hydroxymethyl)-L-lyxose (dihydro-hydroxy-L-streptose). These two sugars have not been found so far in other lipopolysaccharides and the latter one not previously in any other natural product. Their identification is based on GLC-MS comparison with authentic and synthetic compounds. Both branched sugars (and in addition part of the mannose) are the terminal sugars in LPS I. Sites of attachment of phase I-specific sugars to the LPS II-core are: the 3-position of a branched heptose and, presumably, the 4-position of a terminal D-mannose. The extreme acid-lability of the linkages of both branched sugars was investigated in detail and is caused by the nature of the branched sugars (deoxyhexose with bulky axial substituents; pentofuranose with axial OH-groups). No information is so far available on the (penultimate) sugars to which the branched sugars are linked, but methylation analyses with LPS I, and with the recently described I/CR mutant, which is selectively lacking the virenopyranose, are presently performed.

Structural determination of lipid A from gram negative bacteria using laser desorption mass spectrometry

Laser desorption mass spectrometry has been employed for the structural determination of lipid A components derived from the lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of gram-negative bacteria. Mass spectra were obtained for methylated monophosphoryl lipid A from Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides, for diphosphoryl lipid A from Escherichia coli and for the intact LPS from the Re Mutant of E. coli consisting of triphosphoryl lipid A and two KDO (2-keto-3-deoxyoctonate) units. Fragmentation of the phosphate (or pyrophosphate) on the reducing glucosamine is followed by fragmentation of acyl-linked fatty acids. Also observed are fragment ions which correspond to the distal portion of the molecule.

Pseudomonas diminuta LPS with a new endotoxic lipid A structure

Lipid A that contains mainly 2,3-diamino-2,3-dideoxy-D-glucose, phosphate and fatty acids in the molar ratio 2:1:5-6 was found in Pseudomonas diminuta lipopolysaccharide. The lipid A was considered to have a diamino-sugar disaccharide structure that carries a nonglycosidic phosphomonoester group and amide-bound acyloxyacyl and 3-hydroxy fatty acyl groups. The lipopolysaccharide exhibited endotoxic activities including lethal toxicity, pyrogenicity, local Shwartzman activity, body weight-decreasing toxicity and Limulus activity. The free lipid A was also endotoxic.

Characterization of a structural series of lipid A obtained from the lipopolysaccharides of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Combined laser desorption and fast atom bombardment mass spectral analysis of high performance liquid chromatography-purified dimethyl derivatives

Monophosphoryl lipid A (MLA) obtained from the lipopolysaccharides of serum-sensitive strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae was fractionated on a silicic acid column to yield the hexaacyl and pentaacyl MLAs. The dimethyl derivative of the hexaacyl MLA was analyzed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The dimethyl esters of hexaacyl and pentaacyl MLAs were further purified by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography, and all of the peaks were analyzed by laser desorption mass spectrometry. Considerable structural information was obtained by laser desorption mass spectrometry due to three kinds of specific fragmentations of the sugar at the reducing end. Two major fractions were also analyzed by positive ion fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. High performance liquid chromatography was able to separate the dimethyl MLA according to number, nature, and position of the fatty acyl groups. Since almost no structural information is available, the mass spectra of the samples were interpreted on the basis of the established structure of a model lipid A (hexaacyl MLA derived from Salmonella minnesota). Thirteen different structures of dimethyl MLA were identified. The four prominent dimethyl MLAs found in the fractionated samples were M1 (Mr = 1463), M2 (Mr = 1479), M3 (Mr = 1661), and M4 (Mr = 1677). These MLAs appear to have a 1'----6 linked glucosamine disaccharide backbone. The most prominent hexaacyl MLA was M3. We propose that it contains hydroxylaurate at the 3- and 3'-positions in ester linkage and lauroxymyristate at the 2- and 2'-positions in amide linkage of the glucosamine disaccharide. The most abundant pentacyl MLA was M2. We propose that it contains hydroxylaurate at the 3- and 3'-positions in ester linkage, lauroxymyristate at the 2'-position in amide linkage, and hydroxymyristate at the 2-position in amide linkage of the disaccharide. The lipid A of N. gonorrhoeae appeared to differ from that of the Salmonella strains by the presence of shorter-chain fatty acids and by the normal fatty acid distribution in the reducing and distal subunits.

Heterogeneity of lipid A: structural determination by 13C and 31P NMR of lipid A fractions from lipopolysaccharide of Escherichia coli 0111

Purified lipid A from Escherichia coli 0111 was fractionated by thin-layer chromatography, and seven major bands were studied by 13C and 31P NMR. All lipid A fractions except one had fatty acids, 3-hydroxytetradecanoic acid, 3-(acyloxy)tetradecanoic acid, and phosphate groups bonded to the diglucosamine backbone. The remaining fraction was shown to be phosphatidylethanolamine. The number of substituents found showed that in all fractions all sites available for C-acylation (C-3, C-4, and C-3') and N-acylation (C-2 and C-2') carried acylic substituents. The number, ranging from four to six, and type of ester-bound carboxylic acid residues as well as the number of phosphate groups differed among the fractions. The three fastest moving bands all had three unsubstituted hydroxy fatty acids and one phosphate group (C-4'), while the slower moving bands had four hydroxy fatty acids and two phosphate groups. Unsubstituted 3-hydroxytetradecanoic acid residues were amide-bound to the disaccharide in all but one of the fractions. In summary, the heterogeneity of E. coli 0111 lipid A is found to be a consequence of a variation of the number and composition of carboxylic acid residues and of varying phosphate content.

Isolation and characterization of eight lipid A precursors from a 3-deoxy-D-manno-octylosonic acid-deficient mutant of Salmonella typhimurium

Temperature-sensitive mutants of Salmonella typhimurium that are defective in the biosynthesis of 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonate are known to accumulate disaccharide precursor(s) of lipid A at 42 degrees C (Rick, P. D., Fung, L. W.-M., Ho, C., and Osborn, M. J. (1977) J. Biol. Chem. 252, 4904-4912). We have devised new methods for purifying this material by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and silicic acid columns and have fractionated it into eight related anionic components that fall into four sets, as judged by their charge. Substances IA and IB have an apparent net charge of -1, IIA and IIB of -2, IIIA and IIIB of -3, and IVA and IVB of -4. Negative ion fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry reveals that the simplest component is IVA [( M - H]- at m/z 1404). Compound IVA is also the most abundant, representing 30-50% of the accumulated lipids after 3 h at 42 degrees C. Structural studies of IVA, including NMR spectroscopy described in the accompanying paper, reveal that it consists of O-(2-amino-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1----6)-2-amino-2-deoxy-alpha - D-glucose, acylated at positions 2, 3, 2', and 3' with beta-hydroxymyristoyl moieties and bearing phosphate groups at positions 1 and 4'. Compound IIIA ([M - H]- at m/z 1527) contains an additional phosphoethanolamine residue, while IIA ([M - H]- m/z 1535) bears an aminodeoxypentose substituent, presumably 4-amino-4-deoxy-L-arabinose. Compound IA ([M - H]- at m/z 1658) bears both a phosphoethanolamine and an aminodeoxypentose. The compounds of the less abundant B series are further derivatized with an ester-linked palmitoyl moiety. Our results demonstrate that these precursors are far more heterogeneous than previously suspected.

Isolation and structural analysis of two lipid A precursors from a KDO deficient mutant of Salmonella typhimurium differing in their hexadecanoic acid content

The extraction, purification and structural characterization of two lipid A precursors (Ia and Ib) differing only in one hexadecanoic acid are described. Both precursors were synthesized at elevated temperatures by a new mutant of Salmonella typhimurium (mutant Ts5) which is conditionally defective in synthesis of the 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid region of lipopolysaccharides. Both precursors were purified by repeated phenol/chloroform/petroleum ether (PCP) extractions followed by thin layer chromatography. The precursor preparation was free of lipopolysaccharides and phospholipids and contained less than 0.1% protein. Structural analysis which included chemical degradation procedures as well as positive ion laser desorption (LDMS) mass spectroscopy of dephosphorylated lipid A precursors showed together that precursor Ia represents a diphosphorylated glucosamine disaccharide containing two ester, two amide-linked residues of 3-hydroxytetradecanoic acid and lacks the ester-linked dodecanoic, tetradecanoic and hexadecanoic acid as well as 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid. Precursor Ib has the same basic structure as precursor Ia, but contains in addition one mol of hexadecanoic acid per mol disaccharide which is linked to the 3-hydroxy group of the amide-bound 3-hydroxy-tetradecanoic acid of the reducing, terminal glucosamine residue. The structure of precursor Ib supports the conclusion that hexadecanoic acid incorporation occurs at an early stage in lipid A biosynthesis prior to the attachment of 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid and/or other polar substituents.

Heterogeneity of lipid A: comparison of lipid A types from different gram-negative bacteria

Chloroform-soluble purified lipid A preparations from 10 sources, including five Escherichia coli strains (EH100, K-12, O127, O111, RCDC), two Salmonella strains (Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella minnesota R595), Shigella sonnei II, and a hybrid of Shigella flexneri and E. coli K-12, were compared with lipid A from S. flexneri. Purified lipid A from S. flexneri was earlier found to be composed of eight fractions. The various lipid A preparations were assayed by thin-layer chromatography. Chromatograms were stained for phosphate or carbohydrate by molybdenum blue or orcinol, respectively. The number of major bands found for each lipid A preparation varied between 7 and 10, depending on the source. Comparable bands, based on Rf, were found among all of the different lipid A preparations, but the quantity of each band varied between the sources of lipid A. Four bands (designated 2, 3, 7, and 8) were abundant in every preparation. Variations of conditions used for preparing lipid A, such as changing of hydrolysis time, did not affect the appearance of lipid A on thin-layer chromatography. Change in the type of acid used for hydrolysis also did not affect the band pattern, but it did change the quantitative amounts of the various bands to some degree.

Separation and characterization of toxic and nontoxic forms of lipid A

Highly purified and well-characterized samples of precursors and derivatives of bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) were used to study the relationship between the chemical structure of lipid A and its toxicity. These samples included lipids X and Y (monosaccharide precursors of lipid A) from Escherchia coli MN7; incomplete lipid A (a disaccharide precursor of lipid A) from Salmonella typhimurium i50; and monophosphoryl lipid A, TLC-3 (a derivative of LPS), from S. typhimurium G30/C21. In addition, a diphosphoryl lipid A, TLC-3, was prepared from LPS of S. typhimurium G30/C21 and characterized by positive fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. The diphosphoryl lipid A, TLC-3 fraction, was determined to be very toxic by the chick embryo lethal-dose test (CELD50 = 0.0064 microgram). Lipids X and Y, incomplete lipid A, and monophosphoryl lipid A (TLC-3), were all nontoxic (CELD50 greater than 10 micrograms). These results suggest a multiple structural requirement for toxicity of lipid A. Toxic lipid A must contain all of the following components: a glucosamine disaccharide, a sugar-1-phosphate, and normal fatty acid(s).

The biosynthesis of gram-negative endotoxin. Identification and function of UDP-2,3-diacylglucosamine in Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli mutants defective in the pgsB gene are phosphatidylglycerol-deficient in certain genetic settings and accumulate novel, glucosamine-derived phospholipids (Nishijima, M., and Raetz, C. R. H. (1979) J. Biol. Chem. 254, 7837-7844). The simplest of these compounds is 2,3-diacylglucosamine 1-phosphate (2,3-diacyl-GlcN-1-P) ("lipid X" of E. coli), in which beta-hydroxymyristoyl moieties are the sole fatty acid substituents (Takayama, K., Qureshi, N., Mascagni, P., Nashed, M. A., Anderson, L., and Raetz, C. R. H. (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 7379-7385). We now report a sensitive radiochemical method for detection of 2,3-diacyl-GlcN-1-P in wild type E. coli and demonstrate that there are about 4000 molecules/cell (0.02% of the total CHCl3-soluble phosphorus). In mutants bearing the pgsB1 lesion, the levels are 100- to 300-fold higher. In addition, we have discovered a novel liponucleotide, UDP-2,3-diacyl-GlcN, that also accumulates in conjunction with the pgsb1 mutation. This material represents 0.005% of the wild type phospholipid and accumulates 50- to 100-fold in the mutant. The identification of UDP-2,3-diacyl-GlcN in E. coli is based on: 1) migration of a minor 32P-labeled lipid from wild type and mutant cells with a UDP-2,3-diacyl-GlCn standard during two-dimensional thin layer chromatography; 2) susceptibility of this 32P-labeled material to cleavage by a liponucleotide-specific pyrophosphatase; and 3) chromatographic identification of [32P]UMP and [32P]2,3-diacyl-GlcN-1-P (lipid X) as the sole products of the enzymatic degradation. As shown in the accompanying article, this novel nucleotide is crucial for biosynthesis of lipid A disaccharides in extracts of E. coli and Salmonella typhimurium.

Lipid A fractions analyzed by a technique involving thin-layer chromatography and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

A modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), with alkaline phosphatase as enzyme, was used for the study of antigenicity of lipid A fractions directly on thin-layer chromatographic (TLC) plates. For visualization a gel slab containing the enzyme substrate was placed on the plate containing enzyme-conjugated antibodies. The plate was read by a thin-layer chromatogram spectrophotometer. The immunoassay was both highly specific and quite sensitive. Sensitivity was superior to levels obtained by staining the plate with molybdenum blue (for phosphate) or orcinol (for carbohydrate). Fractions of lipid A from Escherichia coli 0111, Shigella flexneri or Salmonella minnesota R595, after being separated by thin-layer chromatography, were analyzed using rabbit anti-(lipid A) serum. Patterns obtained by scanning the same plates for phosphate staining and for the TLC-ELISA corresponded well. For comparison with TLC-ELISA, an inhibition assay was run using a tube ELISA. The tube ELISA, run in aqueous medium, showed that fractions 6-8 (those having the highest RF values) had the least activities. In contrast, TLC-ELISA did not detect large differences between fractions 2-7. This discrepancy probably reflected limited aqueous solubility of fractions 6 and 7. We conclude that TLC-ELISA might reveal antigenic activities of lipids that could be missed by other methods. The data suggested that all fractions, except for fraction 8, were similar in their antigenicity by TLC-ELISA. Differences in antigenicity between the fractions occurred when the fractions were tested in free form in an aqueous environment and these differences possibly could have been due to different solubilities of individual fractions.

Structural studies on the phosphate-free lipid A of Rhodomicrobium vannielii ATCC 17100

The structure of the free lipid A from Rhodomicrobium vannielii ATCC 17100 was elucidated. It consists of a central beta-1',6-linked glucosamine disaccharide which is not substituted by phosphate. About 30% of the disaccharide molecules are substituted with mannopyranose in beta-1,4'-linkage to the non-reducing glucosamine. The reducing glucosamine can be directly reduced with NaBH4, indicating either that this glucosamine is not substituted at C1 or its substituent has been removed during the preparation of free lipid A or is removed during reduction with NaBH4. The following formula shows the 'backbone' structure of the free lipid A from Rm. vannielii ATCC 17100: beta-Manp(1-- leads to 4)-beta-GlcpN(1 leads to 6)GlcpN. 3-(R)-Hydroxyhexadecanoic acid is linked to the amino group of the reducing glucosamine. The residue at the amino group of the non-reducing glucosamine has not been identified. The hydroxyl groups of the central disaccharide are acylated with 3-(tetradecanoyloxy)-tetradecanoic acid, 3-hydroxytetradecanoic acid, delta 14-docosenoic acid (delta 14-C22:1) and acetyl groups. The hydroxyl groups of the mannose are not substituted.

Chemical structure of the lipid A component of the lipopolysaccharide from a Proteus mirabilis Re-mutant

The chemical structure of the lipid A component from the lipopolysaccharide of a Proteus mirabilis Re-mutant (strain R45) was analysed. It consists of a beta(1-6)-linked D-glucosamine disaccharide which carries two phosphate groups, one being ester-linked to position 4' of the nonreducing glucosaminyl residue and the other being bound to the glycosidic hydroxyl group of the reducing glucosaminyl residue. The ester-bound phosphate group is quantitatively substituted by a 4-amino-4-deoxy-L-arabinopyranosyl residue, the glycosidic phosphoryl group appears to be unsubstituted. Two available hydroxyl groups of the disaccharadide (probably at positions 3 and 3') are acylated by approximately 1 mol each of (R)-3-tetradecanoyloxytetradecanoic and (R)-3-hydroxytetradecanoic acid/mol. The amino group of the nonreducing glucosaminyl residue carries (R)-3-tetradecanoyloxytetradecanoic and that of the reducing residue (R)-3-hydroxytetradecanoic acid. In addition smaller amounts of (R)-3-hexadecanoyloxytetradecanoic acid are present in amide linkage. The attachment site of the oligosaccharide portion to lipid A was also investigated. It was found that the hydroxyl group at position 6' of the nonreducing glucosaminyl residue carries 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid. This indicates that the saccharide portion in this Proteus lipopolysaccharide is linked to lipid A via the primary hydroxyl group in position 6'.

Lipopolysaccharides of the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of two isolates of Microcystis aeruginosa were extracted with phenol/water and purified. Cesium chloride gradient ultracentrifugation of these preparations yielded only one fraction. The LPS contained significant amounts of 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid, glucose, 3-deoxy sugars, glucosamine, fatty acids, fatty acid esters, hexoses, and phosphate. Heptose, a characteristic sugar component of the polysaccharide moiety of LPS of most gram-negative bacteria was absent. Lipopolysaccharides and lipid A hydrolysate of LPS preparations were active in mouse lethality and Limulus lysate gelation. The lipid A moiety was slightly less active in toxicity and Limulus lysate gelation assays than the intact LPS. The LPS and lipid A moiety of the two isolates of M. aeruginosa were less active in toxicity in mice and Limulus test than LPS of Salmonella abortus equi.

Complete structure of lipid A obtained from the lipopolysaccharides of the heptoseless mutant of Salmonella typhimurium

A highly purified monophosphoryl lipid A, TLC-3 fraction obtained from the lipopolysaccharides of the heptoseless mutant Salmonella typhimurium G30/C21 was converted to the dimethyl pentatrimethylsilyl derivative and analyzed by proton NMR spectroscopy at 400 MHz. Substantial downfield shifts of the resonances for protons at the 3- and 3'-carbons of the glucosamine disaccharide to 5.06 and 5.15 ppm, respectively, occurred from the normal range of 3.5-4.1 ppm, indicating that these two positions on the sugar rings were acylated. Significant downfield shift of the resonances for protons at the 4- and 6'-carbons did not occur, indicating the absence of acyl groups at these two positions. Since positive ion fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry previously established the presence of hydroxymyristoyl and myristoxymyristoyl esters at the reducing end and distal subunits, respectively, these acyl groups must be attached to the oxygen of the corresponding 3- and 3'-carbons of lipid A. With these results, we can now describe the complete structure of the monophosphoryl lipid A, TLC-3 from S. typhimurium.

Position of ester groups in the lipid A backbone of lipopolysaccharides obtained from Salmonella typhimurium

Lipopolysaccharides extracted from the heptoseless mutant of Salmonella typhimurium G30/C21 were hydrolyzed with either 0.1 N HCl at 100 degrees C or treated twice with 20 mM sodium acetate, pH 4.5, at 100 degrees C for 45 min and finally purified by preparative thin layer chromatography to yield a structural series of mono- and diphosphoryl lipid A, respectively. Positive ion fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry of the diphosphoryl lipid A TLC-3 (a highly acylated major band) showed a major component with (M + H)+ ion of mass 1798, which fragmented to yield a (M - H2PO4)+ ion of mass 1700. Cleavage at the glycosidic bond gave rise to an oxonium ion fragment of mass 1087. In conjunction with other studies, this establishes the molecular formula and Mr of the major component to be C94H178N2O25P2 and 1797.2 (as the free acid), respectively. Similar analysis of monophosphoryl lipid A TLC-3 produced an (M + H)+ peak at m/z 1718, (M + Na)+ adduct peak at m/z 1740, and a fragment of mass 1087. The spectrum of monophosphoryl lipid A TLC-5 was devoid of the m/z 1087 peak and instead contained the phosphorylated oxonium ion of mass 876. This fragment ion is assigned as the distal subunit, and these results show that the distal subunit of the major lipid A TLC-3 contains two hydroxymyristoyl, one myristoyl, and one lauroyl residues, whereas the reducing end subunit contains two hydroxymyristoyl groups. A revised structure of the lipid A backbone in lipopolysaccharides of S. typhimurium is proposed.

Lipopolysaccharides from Pseudomonas maltophilia. Structural studies of the side-chain, core, and lipid-A regions of the lipopolysaccharide from strain NCTC 10257

Structural studies have been carried out on the O-specific polysaccharide, the core oligosaccharide, and the lipid A from the lipopolysaccharide of Pseudomonas maltophilia NCTC 10257. By means of 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, a tetrasaccharide repeating-unit for the O-specific polymer has been confirmed. However, the data suggest that the L-rhamnopyranosyl residue at the branching point has the alpha configuration rather than beta as proposed previously [Neal, D.J. and Wilkinson, S.G. (1979) Carbohydr. Res. 69, 191-201]. The core oligosaccharide contains residues of D-glucose, D-mannose phosphate, D-galactosamine (not N-acetylated), D-galacturonic acid, and a 3-deoxyoctulosonic acid (but no aldoheptose). A partial structure for the oligosaccharide is proposed. Lipid A is based on phosphorylated glucosamine residues, with N-fatty acyl and O-fatty acyl substituents. The major fatty acids are 9-methyldecanoic acid, 2-hydroxy-9-methyldecanoic acid, 3-hydroxy-9-methyldecanoic acid (each ester-linked), 3-hydroxydodecanoic acid, and 3-hydroxy-11-methyldodecanoic acid (both mainly amide-linked). The results of this study provide further evidence for a relationship between P. maltophilia and some Xanthomonas species.

Purification and structural determination of nontoxic lipid A obtained from the lipopolysaccharide of Salmonella typhimurium

Endotoxin extracted from the heptose-less mutant of Salmonella typhimurium was hydrolyzed in 0.1 N HCl in methanol/water (1:1, v/v) at 100 degrees C to yield lipid A, which was then fractionated on a Sephadex LH-20 column to yield a major monophosphoryl lipid A fraction. The monophosphoryl lipid A was further fractionated by preparative thin layer chromatography. This process yielded three major bands (TLC-1, -3, and -5) and two minor bands (TLC-7 and -9). The purity of these fractions was established by ion exchange and reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography. The thin layer fractions were analyzed by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. TLC-1 and -3 gave molecular ions (M-H)- at m/e 1730 and 1716, respectively. Both of these fractions contained beta-hydroxymyristic, lauric, and 3-myristoxymyristic acids in O-acyl linkages. The molecular formula and Mr of TLC-1 are C95H179O22N2P and 1731.16; those of TLC-3 are C94H177O22N2P and 1717.15. TLC-1 was a methyl homolog of TLC-3. The major component of TLC-5 (C80H151O22N2P and Mr = 1506.99) gave a molecular ion at m/e 1506 and contained two beta-hydroxymyristic acids and a lauric acid in the O-acyl linkages. The major component of TLC-7 (C66H125O19N2P and Mr = 1280.83) and the single component of TLC-9 gave molecular ions at m/e 1280 and 1098, respectively. TLC-7 contained lauric and beta-hydroxymyristic acids in the O-acyl linkages. TLC-9 (C54H103O18N2P and Mr = 1098.69) contained a single O-acylated beta-hydroxymyristate group. TLC-1 and -3 were nontoxic in the chick embryo lethality test and regressed established tumors in the syngeneic guinea pigs.

Isolation of an unusual 'lipid A' type glycolipid from Pseudomonas paucimobilis

A new glycolipid was isolated from defatted cells of Pseudomonas paucimobilis IAM 12576, and called 'bound lipid'. The 'bound lipid' could not be extracted by hot phenol extraction, but could be extracted with hot chloroform/methanol after hydrolysis with 5% trichloroacetic acid. The 'bound lipid' was purified by thin-layer chromatography on silica gel plates using the solvent mixture CHCl3/CH3OH/CH3COOOH/ H2O (25:15:4:2, v/v). It consisted of glucosamine, 2-hydroxy myristic acid, galactose, mannose and uronic acid with ratios of 1.0:0.75:0.77:0.44:1.5, respectively, and other fatty acids besides 2-hydroxy myristic acid were not detected in the 'bound lipid'. 2-Hydroxy myristic acid was probably bound to glucosamine residues by amide linkage, because mild alkali treatment did not liberate the fatty acid. From these results, we discussed the possibility that the 'bound lipid' was some kind of lipid A of this bacteria.

The application of 13C-NMR spectroscopy to study lipid A from Yersinia pseudotuberculosis lipopolysaccharide

The use of 13C-NMR spectroscopy in the establishment of lipid A backbone structure from lipopolysaccharide of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis has been described. The 13C-NMR spectra of degraded lipid A and its N-acetate were obtained. The assignment of signals was made by comparison with the chemical shifts for 13C-NMR spectra of glucosaminitol, N-acetyl-glucosaminitol and their beta-1,4 and beta-1,6 disaccharides. It was shown that lipid A backbone of the lipopolysaccharide in question consists of beta-1,6-linked glucosamine disaccharide.

[Chemical composition of the Pseudomonas solanecearum lipopolysaccharide]

The structure of Pseudomonas solanacearum lipopolysaccharide is similar to those described for the LPS of enterobacteria. The lipid A contains fatty acids and glucosamine (5 fatty acids for 2 glucosamine residues). The polysaccharide part contains 2-keto-3-deoxy-octulosonate, L-glycero-D-mannoheptose, hexoses (glucose, rhamnose, glucosamine) and a pentose (xylose). Part of 3-hydroxy-myristic acid and the whole 2-hydroxy-octadecenoïc acid are linked to the glucosamine residue by an amide bond.

Essential regions of the lipopolysaccharide of Pseudomonas aeruginosa responsible for pyrogenicity and activation of the proclotting enzyme of horseshoe crabs. Comparison with antitumor, interferon-inducing and adjuvant activities

Regions of lipopolysaccharide derived from Pseudomonas aeruginosa essential for pyrogenicity and activation of the proclotting enzyme of the horseshoe crab were examined. Free lipid A with intact fatty acids showed strong pyrogenicity but showed little activation of the proclotting enzyme. Chemical modification of the polysaccharide portion and deacylation of the lipopolysaccharide diminished activation of the proclotting enzyme. The native-protein portion attached to the lipopolysaccharide also inhibited the activation of proclotting enzyme by lipopolysaccharide, but not pyrogenicity. These results indicate that free lipid A is sufficient for pyrogenicity, whereas the complete lipopolysaccharide is the strongest activator of the proclotting enzyme. The lipopolysaccharide of P. aeruginosa, which showed the strongest activation of proclotting enzyme, showed the weakest pyrogenicity of all the lipopolysaccharides tested here. All these results demonstrate that there is not correlation between pyrogenicity and proclotting enzyme activation induced by lipopolysaccharides.

Isolation, purification, and chemical analysis of the lipopolysaccharide and lipid A of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus NCTC 10305

The lipopolysaccharide of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus NCTC 10305 (London) was obtained by a modified phenol/chloroform/light petroleum method from the bacterial cells and from the culture medium in yields of 1.6% and 2.2% respectively (based on the bacterial dry weight). On chemical analysis, both preparations proved to be identical. The lipopolysaccharide obtained from the cells was purified by repeated ultracentrifugation, electrodialysis, and precipitation with sodium chloride. It was free of nucleic acids, proteins, and glycans. In the analytical ultracentrifuge, the triethylamine and sodium salt forms of the lipopolysaccharide showed a s20 value of 8.9 S and 51 S, respectively. The lipopolysaccharide consisted of glucosamine, 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid, D-glucose, fatty acids, and phosphate in a molar ratio of 2:1:7:6:4. The fatty acids were predominantly lauric acid, 2-hydroxy, and 3-hydroxylauric acid in a molar ratio of 1:1:2. Only 3-hydroxylauric acid was found in amide linkage. On mild acid hydrolysis of the lipopolysaccharide, 65% lipid A were obtained, to which glucosamine was retained quantitatively. It still contained 50% of the original glucose, while one third (15%) of the liberated glucose was in monomeric form.

Chemical and chromatographic analysis of lipopolysaccharide from an antibiotic-supersusceptible mutant of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Lipopolysaccharides extracted from Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain K799 and its antibiotic-supersusceptible derivative Z61 were analyzed chemically and chromatographically. The side-chain polysaccharides purified by gel exclusion chromatography were compositionally identical, being composed of fucosamine (2-amino-2,6-dideoxygalactose), quinovosamine (2-amino-2,6-dideoxyglucose), and an unidentified amino sugar. In addition, low amounts of the core-specific components (glucose, rhamnose, alanine, and galactosamine) were found associated with the side chains from both strains. An average molecular weight of 38,000 to 50,000 was calculated for this fraction based on the glucose and rhamnose levels. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated that the lipopolysaccharides from these two strains were microheterogeneous. Qualitative analysis of the lipopolysaccharide neutral sugars, using a series of single-step revertants of mutant Z61, demonstrated that full revertants showed patterns indistinguishable from those of the wild-type strain K799, whereas partial revertants had intermediate levels and mutant Z61 low levels of neutral sugars. Quantitative analysis revealed that the core oligosaccharide fraction from the wild-type strain had a glucose/rhamnose/galactosamine ratio of 4:1:1, whereas the core from Z61 exhibited major deficiencies in both glucose and rhamnose. The lipid A from both strains contained five fatty acids, namely, 3-hydroxydecanoate, dodecanoate, 2- and 3-hydroxydodecanoate, and hexadecanoate. Whereas the overall fatty acid content was equal, the mutant strain showed markedly lower levels of dodecanoate and hexadecanoate and increased levels of 2-hydroxydodecanoate. Results of whole-cell fatty acid analyses were consistent with this observation. Evidence for an additional alteration of the lipid A of strain Z61 was obtained from acid hydrolysis studies and infrared spectra of isolated lipid A, although the actual chemical basis could not be determined by a variety of techniques. It is suggested that the state of the lipopolysaccharide is able to influence the number of open functional protein F pores in the outer membrane of P. aeruginosa.

Isolation of a nontoxic lipid A fraction containing tumor regression activity

Galanos-type endotoxin obtained from the heptose-less mutant of Salmonella typhimurium was converted to Lipid A by two cycles of treatment with sodium acetate, pH 4.5, at 100 degrees and separated on a DEAE-cellulose column into several fractions (Fractions III to VII). Tumor regression studies with strain 2 guinea pigs and syngeneic line 10 hepatocellular carcinoma showed that all fractions were effective when combined with trehalose dimycolates and an additional tumor regression factor (previously designated ACP) and incorporated into oil droplets (78 to 100% cures). A low polar fraction (Fraction IV) was relatively nontoxic [the medium lethal dose for 11-day-old chick embryos inoculated i.v. (CELD50) was more than 10 micrograms] and nonpyrogenic [the dose estimated to give a fever index (area under fever curve) of 40 sq cm in rabbits when 1 hr and 1 degrees are plotted as 1 (FI40) was 5 micrograms] as compared to the unfractionated Lipid A (CELD50 of 0.0546 micrograms; FI40 of 0.046 micrograms). All other fractions were toxic and pyrogenic and caused severe endotoxic shocks when combined with N-acetylmuramyl-L-seryl-D-isoglutamine and injected i.v. into guinea pigs. Fraction IV plus N-acetylmuramyl-L-seryl-D-isoglutamine did not cause endotoxic shock. The phosphate content of Fraction IV was about one-half of that detected in the toxic fractions.

Lipid A component of lipopolysaccharides from Coxiella burnetii

Free lipid A from phase I and phase II Coxiella burnetii lipopolysaccharides was isolated and studied serologically. Antisera against lipid A from phase I and phase II C. burnetii cross-reacted with the lipid A preparations from both phases as well as with Salmonella lipid A.

Biological activities of fragments derived from Bordetella pertussis endotoxin: isolation of a nontoxic, Shwartzman-negative lipid A possessing high adjuvant properties

Endotoxin from fresly sedimented Bordetella pertussis cells, isolated by the phenol/water procedure when submitted to kinetically controlled, mild acidic hydrolysis released a polysaccharide (polysaccharide 1), a complex lipid (lipid X), and a glycolipid. When treated with somewhat stronger acid, the glycolipid yielded a second polysaccharide (polysaccharide 2) and another complex lipid (lipid A). The intact pertussis endotoxin had all the usual properties of endotoxins extracted from enteric bacteria. Lipid X and the intermediary glycolipid retained all the endotoxic properties of the unfractionated endotoxin. In lipid A, pyrogenicity was reduced to a very low level and toxicity and Shwartzman reactivity were absent; however, this fraction retained most of the endotoxin's antiviral activity, and its adjuvant power was considerably higher than that of the intact endotoxin. Lipid A elicited nonspecific resistance against challenge with certain bacteria, but not against others.

Lipid A from endotoxin: antigenic activities of purified fractions in liposomes

Isolation of lipid A by acid hydrolysis of Shigella flexneri lipopolysaccharide resulted in a product that consisted of a heterogeneous mixture of bands when visualized by thin layer chromatography. Differential extraction with ethyl acetate and chloroform, or extraction with EDTA, followed by chloroform-methanol-water (Bligh-Dyer extraction), or a combination of both extraction schemes, resulted in partial purification of immunologically active lipid A. Eight fractions were purified further by preparative thin layer chromatography, and each of the fractions had phosphate, carbohydrate, and esterified fatty acids. Upon incorporation into liposomes, five of the eight purified fractions reacted with anti-lipid A serum, but the three fractions with the most number of esterified fatty acids failed to react with anti-lipid A serum. At least one fraction that originally was unreactive with anti-lipid A serum became reactive as a hapten inhibitor upon removal of esterified fatty acids by alkaline hydrolysis. Alkali-treated fractions from "unreactive" and "reactive" lipid A had similar activities as hapten inhibitors. Our data suggest that lipid A can exist in multiple forms that differ by the number and placement, and possibly by the type, of fatty acids linked to the carbohydrate of lipid A. Highly acylated forms of lipid A do not react with antiserum against the unpurified lipid A mixture, but removal of fatty acids does expose immunoreactive groups.

Studies on lipid A from Yersinia pseudotuberculosis lipopolysaccharide. Isolation and general characterization

Lipid A was isolated from lipopolysaccharide of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis S form (strain 341, subtype IB) using mild hydrolysis with acetic acid. The purified material (yield about 25%, molecular weight about 2900) contained D-glucosamine (11%), fatty acids (54%), protein concomitant (9.7%) and phosphorus (approximately 2%). Dodecanoic and 3-hydroxy-tetradecanoic acids in a molar ratio of 1 : 3.6 were detected as major fatty acid constituents. The hydroxyl groups of D-glucosamine were acylated with the residues of both fatty acids, while the amino groups were substituted with the residue of 3-hydroxy-tetradecanoic acid. Such a simple fatty acid composition is reminiscent of that found in lipid A in Y. pestis.

Biosynthesis of lipid A. Enzymatic incorporation of 3-deoxy-D-mannooctulosonate into a precursor of lipid A in Salmonella typhimurium

The cell envelope fraction of Salmonella typhimurium contains an enzyme system which catalyzes transfer of 3-deoxyoctulosonate (KDO) from CMP-KDO to an incomplete, KDO-deficient precursor of lipid A. The enzyme system is firmly membrane-bound, but has been solubilized by treatment with nonionic detergent at alkaline pH and partially purified. Both the particulate and partially purified fractions catalyzed formation of a single reaction product containing 2 residues of KDO. Periodate oxidation of the purified product permitted tentative identification of the KDO disaccharide structure as KDO2-4KDO.

Lipid A as the biologically active moiety in bacterial endotoxin (LPS)-initiated generation of procoagulant activity by peripheral blood leukocytes

Preparations of rabbit or human leukocytes, when incubated with bacterial endotoxins (lipopolysaccharides, LPS) are stimulated to generate a procoagulant-tissue factor activity (TFa). As LPS has been shown to consist of specific repeating oligosaccharide side chains (O-antigen) linked to a central polysaccharide core region that is, in turn, linked to the lipid region of the molecule (lipid A), we have examined the biochemical requirement of the LPS necessary for generation of TFa. Using preparations of LPS from mutant strains of bacteria, which contain varying amounts of polysaccharide in relation to lipid A, we have demonstrated that activity is associated with the lipid A region of the LPS molecule. These observations have been confirmed using isolated lipid A, which is a potent stimulator of TFa, as well as a native protoplasmic polysaccharide that is both devoid of lipid A and without detectable TFa stimulatory activity. Modification of LPS by treatment with mild alkali abrogated its capacity to stimulate TFa generation. In addition, such altered preparations of LPS partially inhibit the stimulatory effect of native LPS. Similarly, treatment of LPS (or lipid A) with the antibiotic polymyxin B substantially inhibited the stimulatory effect of LPS.

The chemical structure of the lipid A component of lipopolysaccharides from Chromobacterium violaceum NCTC 9694

The chemical structure of the lipid A component of lipopolysaccharides from Chromobacterium violaceum NCTC9694 was studied. Sequential treatment of lipopolysaccharide with alkali, acid, sodium borohydride and hydrazine allowed the isolation of a reduced glucosamine disaccharide. According to methylation studies and enzymic analysis with beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase the D-glucosamine residues are beta(1 leads to 6) linked. The disaccharide carries two phosphate groups, one being linked glycosidically, the other being linked as an ester to the non-reducing glucosamine. Application of a different degradation pathway shows that the ester-bound phosphate group is substituted by a 4-aminoarabinosyl residue and that the glycosidically linked phosphate group is substituted by a glucosaminyl residue. Neither the amino nor the hydroxyl groups of both these substituents are acylated. This backbone structure is shown in the following formula: (formula: see text). The amino groups of the central glucosamine disaccharide are substituted by D-3-hydroxy-dodecanoic acid, the hydroxyl groups by dodecanoic, L-2-hydroxydodecanoic and D-3-hydroxy-decanoic acid.

Isolation, purification and properties of an intermediate in 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid--lipid A biosynthesis

Incomplete lipid A has been purified from a mutant of Salmonella typhimurium which is temperature-sensitive both in synthesis of 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid 8-phosphate (dOclA-8-P) and in growth. Pulse-chase experiments have shown that the incomplete lipid A molecule is the intermediate in the biosynthesis of the dOclA-lipid A portion of lipopolysaccharides. The purification procedure included DEAE-cellulose chromatography and electrodialysis. A highly water-soluble precursor material was obtained, consisting of glucosamine, phosphate and 3-hydroxymyristic acid in a molar ratio of 1:1.2:2.1. Labeling experiments as well as chemical degradation procedures revealed the precursor molecule to be composed of a diphosphorylated glucosamine-disaccharide carrying two amide-linked and two ester-linked 3-hydroxymyristic acids. In contrast to the complete dOclA-lipid A part, the intermediate lacks 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid as well as nonhydroxylated fatty acids. On the basis of these findings a pathway for the final steps in dOclA-lipid A biosynthesis is proposed.