Title: Cord Factor(s)
CAS Registry Number: 61512-20-7
Synonyms: Trehalose 6,6￠-dimycolate; 6,6￠-di-
O-mycolyl-a,a-trehalose; (6-
O-mycolyl-a-D-glucopyranosyl)-6-
O-mycolyl-a-D-glucopyranoside
Literature References: Naturally occurring 6,6￠-diesters of trehalose and mycolic acids, b-hydroxy a-branched long chain acids produced by
Mycobacteria, Nocardia, and
Corynebacteria. 3 major classes identifiedwhich are based on the size of the acid and the producing strain: corynomycolic acids (C32), nocardomycolic acids (C48-C60); mycobacteria mycolic acids (C60-C90). The formation of "cords" by tubercule bacilli was first described in 1884 by R. Koch. Isolation of the factor from
Mycobacterium tuberculosis: H. Bloch,
J. Exp. Med. 91, 197 (1950). Structure: J. Asselineau, E. Lederer,
Biochim. Biophys. Acta 17, 161 (1955). Synthesis: J. Polonsky
et al., Carbohydr. Res. 65, 295 (1978); Y. Gama,
Yakugaku 44, 671 (1995). Antitumor activity: A. Bekierkunst
et al., Science 174, 1240 (1971); M. V. Pimm
et al., Int. J. Cancer 24, 780 (1979). Molecular packing and surface properties: R. Almog, C. A. Mannella,
Biophys. J. 71, 3311 (1996). Use as antigen in serodiagnosis of
Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex: K. Enomoto
et al., Microbiol. Immunol. 42, 689 (1998); in tuberculosis: J. Pan
et al., ibid. 43, 863 (1999). Review of early literature: E. Lederer,
Springer Semin. Immunopathol. 2, 133-148 (1979). Review of classes of cord factors and their chemistry:
idem, Microbiol. Ser. 15, 361-378 (1984).
