[Specificity of enzymes of biosynthesis of Salmonella anatum O-antigen for polyprenyl derivatives of different chain length and saturation].

Polyprenyl phosphates of different structure were prepared and their ability to serve as sugar acceptors in the biosynthesis of O-specific polysaccharides of Salmonella anatum was investigated. It was demonstrated that C30-C80-polyprenyl phosphates with unsaturated alpha-isoprene unit were as active as natural acceptor (undecaprenyl phosphate) in this enzymic system. C15- and C100-polyprenyl phosphates of this series were less effective in O-antigen repeating unit formation. Citronellyl and dolichyl phosphates (derivatives of C10- and C105-polyprenols, respectively, with saturated alpha-isoprene unit) were poor substrates. For polymerization of repeating units, the polyprenol chain-length is of utmost importance: its shortening results in a marked drop in the efficiency of respective compounds as substrates.