Generalized spin representations. Part 2: Cartan-Bott periodicity for   the split real En series
  In this article we analyze the quotients of the maximal compact subalgebras of the split real Kac-Moody algebras of the En series resulting from the generalized spin representations introduced in part 1. It turns out that these quotients satisfy a Cartan-Bott periodicity.   Our findings are also meaningful in the finite-dimensional cases of A2 + A1, A4, D5, E6, E7, E8, where it turns out that the generalized spin representation is injective. Consequently the observed Cartan-Bott periodicity provides a structural explanation for the seemingly sporadic isomorphism types of the maximal compact Lie subalgebras of the split real Lie algebras of types E6, E7, E8. 
Max Horn and Ralf K\"ohl
math.RA math.RT