Structural heterogeneity of the lipopolysaccharides of the Neisseriaceae

Lipopolysaccharides from 5 different genera of the Neisseriaceae were analyzed on sodium dodecylsulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and visualized by silver staining. Significant heterogeneity in the banding patterns was observed with some of the strains producing only low molecular mass molecules and others producing O‐repeating units. All genera examined except Branhamella contained starins that were able to produce an O‐repeating side chain on their lipopolysaccharides. The ability to produce the repeating subunit did not correlate with the presence of plasmids.