The type-specific substance from Pneumococcus type 13

1. The type-specific substance, S.13, from Pneumococcus type 13 was subjected to hydrolysis with alkali, followed by enzymic dephosphorylation, to yield a pentasaccharide. 2. The pentasaccharide, corresponding to the dephosphorylated repeating unit of S.13, was shown to be O-β-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→4)-O-β- d-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-O-β-d- galactofuranosyl-(1→4)-O-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-d- glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-ribitol. 3. The phosphodiester linkages in S.13 join the hydroxyl group at position 1 of ribitol and the hydroxyl group at position 4 of a galactopyranosyl residue in the next repeating unit. 4. Ester groups, presumably O-acetyl, are located on positions 2 or 3 of most glucopyranosyl residues in S.13. 5. A partial structure for S.13 is proposed.