The Capsular Polysaccharide of Pneumococcus Type Ix

The capsular polysaccharide of Type IX pneumococcus contains D-glucose, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, and D-glucuronic acid. Complete hydrolysis is difficult. All of the N-acetylglucosamine is resistant to oxidation by periodate, but the other two sugars are degraded in part. Chemical and quantitative serological data are consistent with the linkage of two D-glucose residues 1 --> 4, as in maltose; others may be linked 1 --> 3. Part, at least, of the glucuronic acid and N-acetylglucosamine is linked to glucose.