Process for the production of novel polysaccharide

Abstract

Polysaccharides forming gels are produced by cultivating .[.a.]. microorganism .[.such as Arthrobacter carbazolum.]. .Iadd.strain .Iaddend.FERM 2574 .Iadd.(ATCC-31258) .Iaddend.in a suitable medium.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A process of producing a polysaccharide having a gel forming property which is characterized by the following properties: (1) comprising (a) glucose, (b) mannose, (c) dihydrostreptose and (d) 3-O-(1' carboxyethyl)-L-rhamnose, the molar ratio of said constituents being (a):(b):(c):(d)=10:10:1-3:3-8, and (2) containing an O-acetyl group in an amount of from 8 to 14 weight percent calculated as acetic acid; which comprises cultivating .[.a.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.microorganism .[.Arthrobacter carbazolum.]. .Iadd.strain FERM 2574 (ATCC-31258) or a polysaccharide producing mutant thereof .Iaddend.in a medium containing assimilable carbon sources and nitrogen sources until said polysaccharide is formed and substantially accumulated in the culture, and recovering the accumulated polysaccharide therefrom. .[.   
     
     
       2.  Process according to claim 1, wherein the microorganism is the strain of Arthrobacter carbazolum FERM 2574 (ATCC-31258) or a polysaccharide producing mutant thereof..].