Analysis of bacterial exopolysaccharides

Extracellular polysaccharides have been isolated from cultures of freshwater and marine bacteria originally isolated from material adhering to surfaces and underivatized hydrolysates have been analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography methods. A scheme has been developed whereby the uronic acids can be identified on strong anion-exchange columns, while neutral monosaccharides can be separated and identified using aminobonded columns or cation-exchange adsorbent loaded with a heavy metal ion. The methods permit rapid and accurate comparison of polysaccharides with differing chemotype. The strains studied show a range of different chemotypes, all containing a uronic acid and several neutral monosaccharides. Some of the polysaccharides isolated from marine bacteria possessed a very high acetyl content.