Identification of Ribitol Phosphate as a Constituent of the Lipopolysaccharide from <em>Proteus mirabilis</em>, Strain D52.

A polyol was released from the lipopolysaccharide of Proteus mirabilis, strain D52, during alkaline hydrolysis and its phosphate ester was isolated after acid hydrolysis. This polyol has been identified as ribitol by comparison of the free polyol, its phosphate ester and its anhydro derivative formed after acid treatment with authentic xylitol, D- and L-arabitol, ribitol and their corresponding derivatives on paper and gas-liquid chromatography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]