Submitted to: American Society of Microbiologists Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: May 21, 1996
Publication Date: N/A
Technical Abstract: We are investigating conversion of renewable agricultural resources into value-added products. Recently, we isolated a bacterium from soil which produced a viscous water-soluble extracellular polysaccharide. The bacterium is a non-spore forming, Gram negative rod and was identified as an agrobacterium. Gas chromatographic analysis revealed a sugar composition of glucose, galactose and mannose in the respective molar ratios of 7.5:2.4:1, together with 3.7% (w/w) pyruvic acid. Methylation analyses showed the presence of (1-3)-, (1-4)- and (1-6)-linked glucose, (1-3)- and (1-4,1-6)-linked galactose and a small portion of (1-3)-linked mannose residues. The molecular weight of the polysaccharide is 2x10(6) Da. The viscosity of solutions containing the polysaccharide remained constant from pH 3 to 11. The sugar components and their ratio found in this polysaccharide are different from other known microbial polysaccharides. Maximum yield of the polysaccharide, 20 g/L, was reached in 48 h at 30C incubation. Potential industrial application is currently under investigation.