Polysaccharides synthesized by aerobic mesophilic spore-forming bacteria

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Abstract
The constituent sugars of polysaccharides synthesized by members of the genus Bacillus from sucrose and monosaccharides were identified. Strains of B. cereus. B. pumilus, B. subtilis. B. megatherium. B. polymyxa. B. circulans, B. circulans-macerans. B. brevis and B. alvei were studied. There appears to be a relation between type of polysaccharide synthesized and the group classification as proposed by Smith et al. (1946). Levan synthesis from sucrose is confined to group I bacilli and B. polymyxa. On the other hand, the synthesis of other polysaccharides from sucrose and monosaccharides is confined to group II bacilli and B. megatherium. B. polymyxa and B. megatherium are intermediate in that they synthesize both levan and other polysaccharides from sucrose depending on the culture medium. Group II bacilli synthesize from a wide variety of sugars polysaccharides containing glucose and a uronic acid; glucose, mannose, and a uronic acid; or glucose, mannose, xylose, and a uronic acid. The type of polysaccharide is characteristic of the bacillus and not of the substrate sugar. It was not possible to confirm Klexzkowski and Wierzchowski''s (1940) claim that B. krzemieniewski produces a mannan composed of L-mannose units. The strains available synthesized a complex polymer of glucose (3 parts), mannose (2 parts) and uronic acid (2 parts). The mannose was the ""natural" D-mannose.