| Abstract: | ABSTRACT The conformational behaviour of the major trisaccharide repeating unit (α-D-Galp-(1→2)-β-D-Ribf-(1→9)-α-5-O-Me-Kdnp-) of the polysaccharide from Sinorhizobium fredii SVQ293, a mutant derivative has been analysed by NMR spectroscopy and extensive molecular dynamics simulations. The results obtained indicate that the five-membered ring adopts an almost unique conformation as do the pyranose rings. The Ribf-(1→9)-α-5-O-Me-Kdnp linkage may adopt a variety of conformations while the α-D-Galp-(1→2)-β-D-Ribf- also populates an extended surface of the Φ/Ψ map. Two 10 ns MD simulations using the GB/SA continuum solvent model for water and the MM3* force field provides a population distribution of conformers which satisfactorily agrees with the experimental NMR data for both the glycosidic linkages and the hydroxymethyl groups. |
