Structural characterization of the lipids A of three Bordetella bronchiseptica strains: variability of fatty acid substitution

The structures of lipids A isolated from the lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) of three different pathogenic Bordetella bronchiseptica strains were investigated. The LPSs were found to contain the classical lipid A bisphosphorylated beta-(1->6)-linked D-glucosamine disaccharide with hydroxytetradecanoic acid in amide linkages. Their structures are different from that of the lipid A of Bordetella pertussis endotoxin by the replacement of hydroxydecanoic acid on the C-3 position with hydroxydodecanoic acid or dodecanoic acid and the presence of various amounts of hexadecanoic acid.