[Sugar composition of the lipopolysaccharide and ultrastructural study of the outer membrane of Yersinia enterocolitica (author's transl)].

Phenol-water-extracted lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Yersinia enterocolitica (strain 75 in smooth form; O-group I), after growth at 10 degrees C, contains approximately 40% (w/w) 6-deoxy-L-altrose. By increasing the cultivation temperature a significant decrease in the O-specific sugar is observed. LPS from cells grown at 40 degrees C contains about 12% 6-deoxy-L-altrose. Thin-section micrographs of cells grown at lower temperatures reveal a distinct layer corresponding to the O-specific side chains of LPS in contrast to cells grown at higher temperatures where a decrease in thickness is observed. It is assumed that this observation is due to the decreasing amount of the O-specific sugar at a higher cultivation temperature. The results obtained by the indirect immunoferritin test indicate that the O-specific polysaccharide layer covers the cell surface completely up to 37 degrees C. However, this layer no longer covers the entire surface of all cells as soon as an incubation temperature of 40 degrees C is applied.