Structure characterization of a fucose-containing exopolysaccharide produced by Enterobacter cloacae Z0206.

A novel high molecular weight (1.1 × 10(6)Da) exopolysaccharide (EPS) produced by Enterobacter cloacae Z0206 strain was isolated by column chromatography. Complete hydrolysis of the EPS followed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses showed that the EPS is composed of L-fucose, D-glucose, D-galactose, D-glucuronic acid and pyruvic acid in the approximate molar ratio of 2:1:3:1:1. Partial acid hydrolysis of the purified EPS followed by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) yielded a hexasaccharide. A combination of chemical analysis coupled with mass spectrometry and 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy applied to the oligosaccharide showed that the EPS comprises a heptasaccharide repeating unit.