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REVIEW: Structural Analysis of Lipopolysaccharides from Gram-Negative Bacteria


D. S. Kabanov* and I. R. Prokhorenko

Institute of Basic Biological Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, Institutskaya ul. 2, 142290 Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russia; fax: (496) 733-0532; E-mail: kabanovd1@rambler.ru

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received April 21, 2009; Revision received November 19, 2009
This review covers data on composition and structure of lipid A, core, and O-polysaccharide of the known lipopolysaccharides from Gram-negative bacteria. The relationship between the structure and biological activity of lipid A is discussed. The data on roles of core and O-polysaccharide in biological activities of lipopolysaccharides are presented. The structural homology of some oligosaccharide sequences of lipopolysaccharides to gangliosides of human cell membranes is considered.
KEY WORDS: lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin), lipooligosaccharide, lipid A, core, O-antigen, gangliosides, cytokines

DOI: 10.1134/S0006297910040012