The structure of teichoic acids from marine microorganisms Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis

Teichoic acids from the cell walls of marine bacilli Bacillus subtilis CMM (Collection of Marine Microorganisms) 234 (R-1) and B. licheniformis CMM 454 (1-1G-2) were isolated and characterized. These teichoic acids were found to have identical structures and are composed of the glucose, ribitol, and phosphoric acid residues. On the basis of C-13 NMR and P-31 NMR spectra of the teichoic acids and the products of their dephosphorylation, we established the following structure for the biopolymer: poly[ -->5)-4-O-beta-D-glucopyranosylribitol-(1-phospho].