Depolymerization of the capsular polysaccharide from Klebsiella K19 by the glycanase associated with particles of Klebsiella bacteriophage luminal diameter 19.

The site of cleavage of the capsular polysaccharide from Klebsiella K19 by the endoglycanase associated with particles of Klebsiella bacteriophage luminal diameter 19 was determined. The specific cleavage of the bond Rhap-(1----2)-Rhap provided a series of oligosaccharides having rhamnose at the reducing end. The enzyme is thus an alpha-rhamnosidase. Structural studies on the oligomers confirmed the sequence of the repeating unit of the polysaccharide from K19. The 1H- and 13C-n.m.r. spectra of the homologous series of oligosaccharides corresponding to one, two, three, and four repeat-units exhibit important differences that denot variation of conformation with chain length. The bacteriophage acted on modified forms of K19 polysaccharide to provide a series of linear oligomers, and emphasized the essential role of the negative charge on the uronic acid in the action of the glycanase.