The production of extracellular poly-β-1,6-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (PNAG) by Staphylococcus epidermidis is the principal determinant of biofilm formation on indwelling medical devices. Enzymes that degrade PNAG therefore provide an attractive strategy for biofilm removal and for the manufacture of biofilm-resistant coatings. Here we present methods that allow the identification of PNAG-degrading...

The O-specific moieties of the O1B antigen (lipopolysaccharide) from Escherichia coli O1B:K1 and the O1C antigen from E. coli O1C:K- both consist of L-rhamnose, D-galactose, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, and N-acetyl-D-mannosamine in a molar ratio of 2:1:1:1. By using fragmentation procedures, methylation analysis, and one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, the structures o...

From the effects of N-acetyl-d-glucosamine and d-glucose on the elution of the A protein of human lactose synthetase from a column of Sepharose-alpha-lactalbumin, values of 200m(-1) and 0.57m(-1) are deduced for the association constants describing the interaction between the enzyme and the respective monosaccharides.

The oxidative reductive depolymerization (ORD) of hyaluronate has been investigated. A solution of hyaluronate (Mr 4.07 x 10(5] in phosphate buffer (pH 7.2) was incubated in the presence of Fe2+ for 24 h at 37 degrees C under an oxygen atmosphere to yield depolymerized hyaluronate (ORD fragments; an average Mr of 2,600). The ORD fragments contain 21 and 24% less hexosamine and uronic acid, resp...

The glycosyl hydrolase 18 (GH18) family consists of active chitinases as well as chitinase like lectins/proteins (CLPs). The CLPs share significant sequence and structural similarities with active chitinases, however, do not display chitinase activity. Some of these proteins are reported to have specific functions and carbohydrate binding property. In the present study, we report a novel chitin...

A specific gas chromatographic (GC) detection method for edible bird's nest (EBN) based on identifying the composition of the oligosaccharide chain combined with glycoprotein in EBN is developed. Five monoses (D-mannitose, D-galactose, N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, and N-acetyl neuraminate) that constitute the oligosaccharide chain are detected using GC and GC-mass spectrome...

Transport of D-glucose was studied in Percoll-gradient-purified rat liver lysosomes. D-Glucose uptake had a Km of 22 mM and a t1/2 of approx. 30 s. D-Fucose, 2-deoxyglucose and methyl alpha-glucoside were the most effective competitors for uptake of D-glucose, although D-galactose, D-mannose, D-xylose and L-fucose also appeared to compete for uptake. L-Glucose was a poor competitor for uptake. ...

A rapid method for the analysis of carbohydrate-protein interactions by using fluorescent labeling and SDS-PAGE was developed. The N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosamine-WGA complex and alpha-D-mannose-Con A complex were labeled with 8-aminonaphthalene-1,3,6-trisulfonate (ANTS). The protein band displaying fluorescence with ultraviolet illumination was seen after SDS-PAGE.

Bacillus subtilis 168 has been found to possess a high-affinity transport system for N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAC). The Km for uptake was approximately 3.7 microM GlcNAc, regardless of the nutritional background of the cells. Apparent increases in Vmax were noted when the bacteria were grown in the presence of GlcNAc. The uptake of GlcNAc by B. subtilis was highly stereoselective; D-glucose, ...