中国裸燕麦β-葡聚糖含量的鉴定研究

对来源于中国13个省（区）1010份和国外引进的4份裸燕麦品种（系）进行了β-葡聚糖含量的鉴定研究。结果表明,中国裸燕麦β-葡聚糖含量为2．0％～7．5％,其中含量〈3．00％的占6．61％,3．00％～4．99％的占86．4％。5．00％～5．99％的占5．72％,≥6．00％的占1．18％。按品种类型划分,地方品种的含量低于育成品种（系）。按来源地划分,河北、山西、内蒙古的含量较高,云南、贵州、四川的含量较低,而陕西的含量最低。同年不同地点或相同地点不同年份种植的相同品种（系）,含量有一定的变化（0．27％～0．83％）。在鉴定中筛选出一批高β-葡聚糖品种（系）。本研究不仅为燕麦高β-葡聚糖育种提供了理论依据和物质基础,而且为降脂燕麦保健片的生产提供了优良品种。     

黄皮种子脱水敏感性与萌发事件的研究

黄皮种子对脱水非常敏感,含水量从51%下降至22．4%,种子的发芽率和发芽指数为零,是典型的顽拗性种子。自然脱水时,种子中可溶性糖的含量增加,淀粉的含量下降;磷酸化酶,异柠檬酸裂解酶以及胚轴中α-和β-淀粉酶的活性先增加然后下降;子叶中α-和β-淀粉酶的活性呈下降趋势．这些变化类似于吸水萌发的黄皮和豌豆种子。可以认为黄皮种子脱水敏感性的原因是在脱落时萌发。随着萌发过程的进行,水分成为限制因子,使种子生活力丧失。     

香蕉采后炭疽病发生与几丁酶、β-1,3-葡聚糖酶和多巴胺的关系

几丁酶、β－1,3-葡聚糖酶随着香蕉术后炭疽病的发展过程,活性逐渐增加;但当果实出现明显病害症状时活性略有下降。施保功处理在抑制香蕉采后炭疽病发生的同时也抑制了芭蕉炭疽菌可能诱导的几丁酶和β-1,3-葡聚糖酶活性的增加。多巴胺在香蕉采收时含量较高,但随着炭疽病的发生明显下降。对“黑油身”和“63－1”两个不同抗病品种分析表明,前者几丁酶和β－1,3-葡聚糖酶活性和多巴胺含量较高与其较强的抗病性相一致。     

高等植物胚胎的发育生物学研究——Ⅴ.水稻种胚发育过程中胚和胚乳内几种碳水化合物含量及淀粉酶活力的动态 高锦华;唐锡华

在开花后6～15天稻胚分化过程中,胚内淀粉、总糖和非还原糖含量逐渐地增加,但在胚器官原基分化完成后淀粉含量明显下降。胚分化期淀粉酶活力增加显著,尤其是β-淀粉酶活力较高,变化幅度大;胚器官原基分化完成后酶活性亦下降。以单位胚干重或每胚细胞计算的结果基本上亦表现了相似的趋势。稻胚分化发育过程中淀粉是处于不断被贮存同时不断被利用的状态,它积极参与了胚胎发育的代谢过程。至于β-淀粉酶可能在降解淀粉、提供能源,为合成蛋白质及纤维素等物质提供碳架方面起着重要作用。当胚分化完成后胚乳中淀粉含量仍有少量增加。在胚乳中α-淀粉酶活力低,变化幅度小,而β-淀粉酶活力在发育初期很高,以后下降,但活力仍比α-淀粉酶高,可能它在发育前期亦有类似在胚内的作用。     

南荻纤维素合成的相关生理特性

为探明南获纤维素合成相关的生理特性,研究了盆栽条件下南荻生长过程中IAA、ABA含量和纤维素合成关键酶（蔗糖合成酶、β-1,3-葡聚糖酶）活性的变化及其与纤维素含量间的关系。结果显示,在整个生育期,叶片中IAA含量、蔗糖合成酶活性和β-1,3-葡聚糖酶活性变化趋势一致,均呈先升高后降低的单峰曲线变化;叶片中ABA含量与茎秆蔗糖含量均先降低后增加再降低;茎秆纤维素、半纤维素和木质素含量均随生育进程呈现升高趋势。生育前期为调控纤维素合成的关键时期,此时ABA／IAA比值下降,蔗糖合成酶和β-1,3-葡聚糖酶活性快速上升,有利于纤维素的快速积累。     

沙质微泡菌β-1,3(4)-葡聚糖酶的克隆表达及酶学性质

【背景】β-葡聚糖是自然界中广泛存在的非淀粉多糖,是谷类植物细胞壁的主要成分。β-葡聚糖酶能够水解β-葡聚糖生成低聚合度的寡糖,在食品、饲料、造纸等领域发挥着重要的作用。【目的】从海洋细菌沙质微泡菌(Microbulbifer arenaceous)中克隆到一个β-1,3(4)-葡聚糖酶基因,在大肠杆菌中可溶表达,研究其相关酶学性质。【方法】以沙质微泡菌(Microbulbifer arenaceous)基因组DNA为模板,克隆一个β-1,3(4)-葡聚糖酶基因(MaGlu16A),构建重组表达载体p ET-28a-MaGlu16A并在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中诱导表达,通过Ni-NTA亲和层析纯化后进行酶学性质研究。【结果】MaGlu16A的最适pH和最适温度分别为pH 6.0和40°C,在pH 5.0-10.5和35°C以下稳定。对EDTA具有较高的抵抗性,在1 mmol/L和10 mmol/L EDTA浓度下仍保持99.3%和82.5%的酶活力。该酶能够有效水解可得然多糖、昆布多糖、大麦葡聚糖、地衣多糖、燕麦葡聚糖和酵母葡聚糖,水解产物主要为葡萄糖、二糖、三糖和四糖。【结论】海洋细菌沙质微泡菌(Microbulbiferarenaceous)来源β-1,3(4)-葡聚糖酶的克隆表达及酶学性质的测定为β-葡聚糖酶的挖掘及β-葡寡糖的制备奠定了基础。     

生物炭-牛粪堆肥中产β-葡聚糖苷酶微生物群落应答碳代谢抑制效应

【背景】在高浓度葡萄糖引起的碳代谢抑制效应下,产β-葡聚糖苷酶(β-glucosidase)功能微生物群落为适应碳代谢压力的变化,会差异化表达糖耐受和非糖耐受的功能基因。在堆肥中添加生物炭可以改变微生物生存的环境,进而影响微生物群落的组成与功能。【目的】分析在不同碳代谢压力下添加生物炭对产β-葡聚糖苷酶功能微生物群落的结构组成与功能的影响。【方法】在生物炭牛粪-稻草堆肥中添加葡萄糖、纤维二糖及β-葡聚糖苷酶抑制剂,构建不同的碳代谢压力。以细菌来源GH1家族的β-葡聚糖苷酶基因为分子标记基因构建基因克隆文库。同时测定羧甲基纤维素酶酶活和β-葡聚糖苷酶酶活。【结果】放线菌、变形菌和拟杆菌是功能微生物群落中的优势菌群。其中,CL处理组变形菌数量有所下降,在添加了抑制剂的处理组中,拟杆菌的数量明显上升。高浓度葡萄糖显著抑制了羧甲基纤维素酶酶活,但对β-葡聚糖苷酶酶活影响不大,其中低浓度纤维二糖的处理可以显著诱导β-葡聚糖苷酶活性。GHCH处理组中β-葡聚糖苷酶表现出高浓度葡萄糖激活特性。【结论】添加生物炭未明显影响参与纤维素降解的功能微生物群落对碳代谢抑制效应的应答。与自然堆肥相比,在添加了生...     

食用菌副产物中可再利用的营养成分分析

【目的】研究食用菌深加工产生的食用菌副产物中是否含有可再利用的营养成分。【方法】对10种食用菌副产物中的主要营养成分总糖、蛋白质、粗纤维等进行分析测定,并进一步对其葡聚糖构型和氨基酸组成进行定量分析。【结果】食用菌副产物中含有丰富的蛋白质和多糖,进一步分析发现副产物中的多糖主要由具有生物活性的β-葡聚糖组成,氨基酸组成中均含有17种常见氨基酸和7种人体必需氨基酸。其中,茯苓副产物的总糖和β-葡聚糖含量分别为66.04%和59.46%,灵芝孢子粉副产物的蛋白质含量达36.17%,蛹虫草副产物的必需氨基酸总量达10.43%。【结论】食用菌副产物中含有较高的营养成分,具有较大的再利用价值,为食用菌产业的可持续发展建立了基础。     

一株红孢囊藻(Rhodosorus sp.SCSIO-45730)总糖和β-葡聚糖的积累特性研究

红孢囊藻(Rhodosorus sp.)可以积累高含量多糖,在医药保健和生物能源领域具有潜在开发价值。为进一步评估红孢囊藻(Rhodosorus sp.)产业化潜力,研究了一株红孢囊藻SCSIO-45730在盐度不同的4种培养基中生长及总糖和β-葡聚糖积累特性,结果表明:改良的ASW培养基相对于其他培养基(f/2、Conway和Erdschreiber)更有利于红孢囊藻SCSIO-45730生物量和总糖的积累。以ASW培养基为基础培养基,研究该藻盐度适应性,结果显示:该藻可在18‰-58‰盐度范围内正常生长,随着盐度增加,藻细胞体积逐渐增大且出现聚团现象;在盐度为38‰时,获得最大生物量、总糖含量和产率以及β-葡聚糖产率,分别为13.70 g/L、48.52%DW、412.58 mg/L·d和119.70 mg/L·d,β-葡聚糖含量随着盐度增加而降低;该藻在户外平板光生物反应器中总糖和β-葡聚糖单位体积产量分别为0.73 g/L和0.23 g/L。结果表明,红孢囊藻SCSIO-45730具有较广的盐度适应性、高产总糖和β-葡聚糖潜力,是生产生物乙醇和β-葡聚糖的理想原料。     

棉纤维加厚发育相关物质对纤维比强度的影响

以高、中、低纤维比强度棉花品种科棉1号、美棉33B、苏棉15号和德夏棉1号为材料,研究与棉纤维加厚发育密切相关的可溶性糖、蔗糖和-β1,3-葡聚糖含量动态变化特性及其对纤维比强度形成的影响.结果显示,与中、低强纤维品种相比,高强纤维品种棉花铃龄为10 d时纤维可溶性糖、蔗糖含量高,全铃期内其转化率高且转化彻底,铃龄为24~31 d期间蔗糖累积量高;纤维加厚发育起始期的-β1,3-葡聚糖含量峰值高,其中后期转化迅速而彻底.高强纤维品种棉纤维中可溶性糖、蔗糖和-β1,3-葡聚糖含量动态变化特性利于纤维素累积特性的优化,即快速累积期长、累积速率平缓,易形成高强纤维.研究表明,在物质变化水平上,可溶性糖、蔗糖和β-1,3-葡聚糖含量动态变化特性影响到棉纤维素累积特性,是导致棉纤维比强度品种差异的重要原因.     

Dietary calcium phosphate content and oat β-glucan influence gastrointestinal microbiota, butyrate-producing bacteria and butyrate fermentation in weaned pigs

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of oat β-glucan in combination with low- and high-dietary calcium phosphate (CaP) content on gastrointestinal bacterial microbiota, prevalence of butyrate-production pathway genes and fermentation end-products in 32 weaned pigs allocated to four diets: a cornstarch-casein-based diet with low [65% of the calcium (Ca) and phosphorous (P) requirement] and high CaP content (125% and 115% of the Ca and P requirement, respectively); and low and high CaP diets supplemented with 8.95% of oat β-glucan concentrate. Pigs were slaughtered after 14 days, and digesta were collected for quantitative PCR analysis, and quantification of short-chain fatty acids and lactate. The high CaP content reduced gastric lactate and streptococci and propionate in the large intestine. Oat β-glucan distinctly raised gastric bacterial numbers, and colonic lactobacilli and bifidobacteria. Although not reflected by gene copies of butyrate-production pathway genes, oat β-glucan also increased gastric, caecal and colonic butyrate concentrations, which may be favourable for intestinal development in weaned pigs. Thus, a high CaP content negatively affected the intestinal abundance of certain fermentation end-products, whereas oat β-glucan generally enhanced bacterial numbers and activity. The results emphasize the importance of the stomach for bacterial metabolism of oat β-glucan in weaned pigs.     

Barley and oat cultivars with diverse carbohydrate composition alter ileal and total tract nutrient digestibility and fermentation metabolites in weaned piglets

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of cereal carbohydrate form (isolated v. cereal matrix) and level, especially mixed-linked β-glucan (hereafter referred to as β-glucan) and starch amylase/amylopectin ratio on nutrient digestibility and fermentation parameters in the intestines of weaned pigs. Four hulless barley cultivars containing varying β-glucan levels (41 to 84 g/kg) were compared with hulled barley, supplemented or not with a β-glucan concentrate (BBG; 270 g/kg β-glucan) and two oat cultivars for digestibility and fermentation metabolites. Seventy-two weaned piglets (BW = 12.8 ± 1.9 kg) were assigned to one of nine diets composed of 815 g/kg cereal, 60 g/kg whey, 90 g/kg soy protein isolate and 35 g/kg minerals. After 15 days, the pigs were killed, and digesta collected from ileum and colon were analyzed for proximate nutrients, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), lactic acid (LA) and ammonia. Ileal and total tract digestibility of proximate nutrients and non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs) were determined using HCl-insoluble ash as a marker. Organic matter (OM) ileal digestibility was greater (P < 0.05) for diets based on hulless barley (77% ± 1.1% on average), as compared with hulled barley (64% ± 1.4%) and oat (58% ± 1.5%). Similar trends were found for total tract OM digestibility, varying from 90% ± 0.3% for hulless barley to 67% ± 0.4% for oat, on average. NSP digestibility differed (P < 0.05) within and between cereal types, ranging from 20% (hulled barley plus 163 g/kg BBG or 40 g/kg β-glucan) to 51% (SB94893 hulless barley cultivar with high β-glucan and high amylose ratio) at the ileum and from 44% (hulled barley) to 84% (SB94893 cultivar) at the total tract level. No dietary effect (P > 0.05) was found for SCFA concentration in ileal contents, whereas in colonic contents, SCFA was lower in pigs fed oat (P < 0.001). LA concentration was greater (P < 0.001) in the colon of pigs fed hulless barley than in pigs fed hulled barley and oat. Expressed per kg carbohydrate (NSP + starch) fermented, the ammonia concentration at the colon was lowest for hulled barley diets (supplemented with β-glucan) and the highest for oat diets. In conclusion, the interaction of both form and level of β-glucan impacted nutrient digestibility and fermentation. Hulless barleys with high soluble NSP such as β-glucan and resistant starch yielded, in general higher SCFA and LA and lower ammonia. Hulless barleys may, therefore, have potential for use in feeding strategies designed to improve gut health in pigs.     

Asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation enables the characterization of molecular and supramolecular properties of cereal β-glucan dispersions

In this paper we study the properties of molecular and supra molecular species in cereal β-glucan solutions/dispersions by the utilization of asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation coupled to multi-angle light scattering and refractive index (AsFlFFF-MALS-RI) detectors. The samples were purified barley and oat β-glucans which were dissolved in aqueous solution using either mild conditions or more harsh treatments with alkali. Dissolution in 0.5 M NaOH was not sufficient to eliminate aggregated structures in barley β-glucan. The results in this paper show how distinction can possibly be made between molecular and supra molecular species using scaling approaches and conformational parameters obtained from AsFlFFF-MALS-RI over the entire size distribution. Small species in the barley β-glucan samples display properties ranging from elongated conformation to random coil conformation. Aggregates have low apparent densities and a swollen micro gel structure. Oat β-glucan displays no properties that can be attributed to a molecularly dissolved β-glucan showing that dissolution was incomplete. The aggregate properties analyzed were similar between oat and barley β-glucan.     

Purification and characterization of a novel alkaline β-1,3-1,4-glucanase (lichenase) from thermophilic fungus Malbranchea cinnamomea

A novel alkaline β-1,3-1,4-glucanase (McLic1) from a thermophilic fungus, Malbranchea cinnamomea, was purified and biochemically characterized. McLic1 was purified to homogeneity with a purification fold of 3.1 and a recovery yield of 3.7 %. The purified enzyme was most active at pH 10.0 and 55 °C, and exhibited a wide range of pH stability (pH 4.0–10.0). McLic1 displayed strict substrate specificity for barley β-glucan, oat β-glucan and lichenan, but did not show activity towards other tested polysaccharides and synthetic p-nitrophenyl derivates, suggesting that it is a specific β-1,3-1,4-glucanase. The K _m values for barley β-glucan, oat β-glucan and lichenan were determined to be 0.69, 1.11 and 0.63 mg mL^?1, respectively. Moreover, the enzyme was stable in various non ionic surfactants, oxidizing agents and several commercial detergents. Thus, the alkaline β-1,3-1,4-glucanase may have potential in industrial applications, such as detergent, paper and pulp industries.     

Oxidation of oat β-glucan in aqueous solutions during processing

The study investigated carbonyl group formation along the chain and the chain cleavage of cereal β-glucan during heat treatments, high pressure homogenisation, cold storage and ascorbic acid treatment of aqueous solutions of this soluble dietary fibre. The carbonyl group content and its distribution along the chain were simultaneously determined with the chain cleavage using a HPSEC/labelling method, originally developed for water-insoluble cellulose. Ascorbic acid treatment resulted in a relatively high degree of carbonyl content and extensive degradation of β-glucan, even in concentrations typically found in foods. The thermal oxidation of the β-glucan was considerable at 120 °C in a β-glucan solution with co-extracted compounds from oat ingredient, and in the highly purified solutions in presence of ferrous ions. Oxidation also probably contributed to the molecular properties during high pressure homogenisation, even thou the main degradation mechanism is the hydrolysis caused by mechanical energy. In addition to the cleavage of the β-glucan chain, the formation of compact, high molar mass species or molecule clusters were obtained in the study after ascorbic acid, heat (120 °C) and homogenisation treatments.     

β-Glucan extracts inhibit the in vitro intestinal uptake of long-chain fatty acids and cholesterol and down-regulate genes involved in lipogenesis and lipid transport in rats

BackgroundDietary fiber reduces the intestinal absorption of nutrients and the blood concentrations of cholesterol and triglycerides.AimWe wished to test the hypothesis that high-viscosity (HV) and low-viscosity preparations of barley and oat β-glucan modify the expression of selected genes of lipid-binding proteins in the intestinal mucosa and reduce the intestinal in vitro uptake of lipids.MethodsFive different β-glucan extracts were separately added to test solutions at concentrations of 0.1–0.5% (wt/wt), and the in vitro intestinal uptake of lipids into the intestine of rats was assessed. An intestinal cell line was used to determine the effect of β-glucan extracts on the expression of intestinal genes involved in lipid metabolism and fatty acid transport.ResultsAll extracts reduced the uptake of 18:2 when the effective resistance of the unstirred water layer was high. When the unstirred layer resistance was low, the HV oat β-glucan extract reduced jejunal 18:2 uptake, while most extracts reduced ileal 18:2 uptake. Ileal 18:0 uptake was reduced by the HV barley extract, while both jejunal and ileal cholesterol uptakes were reduced by the medium-purity HV barley extract. The inhibitory effect of HV barley β-glucan on 18:0 and 18:2 uptake was more pronounced at higher fatty acid concentrations. The expression of genes involved in fatty acid synthesis and cholesterol metabolism was down-regulated with the HV β-glucan extracts. β-Glucan extracts also reduced intestinal fatty-acid-binding protein and fatty acid transport protein 4 mRNA.ConclusionsThe reduced intestinal fatty acid uptake observed with β-glucan is associated with inhibition of genes regulating intestinal uptake and synthesis of lipids. The inhibitory effect of β-glucan on intestinal lipid uptake raises the possibility of their selective use to reduce their intestinal absorption.     

Quantitative trait loci influencing β-glucan content in oat (Avena sativa, 2n=6x=42)

The β-glucan content of oat grain is of inter-est due to its positive human health role as a dietary component influencing serum cholesterol levels and its relation to the energy intake of livestock feed. Two recombinant inbred populations sharing a common parent (Kanota × Ogle and Kanota × Marion), and containing 137 individual lines each, were used to identify genomic regions that influence the β-glucan content in cultivated oat. Single-factor ANOVA, a backward elimination process, simple interval mapping (SIM) and simplified composite interval mapping (sCIM) were used to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs). Regions on linkage groups 11 and 14 of the hexaploid oat RFLP map influenced β-glucan levels in both populations and over environments. Other genomic regions were identified whose effects varied depending on the genetic background, but were significant over measurements for a given population. Kanota and Ogle exhibit similar β-glucan levels and each parent contributed about the same number of positive β-glucan alleles in the Kanota × Ogle cross. Marion is higher in β-glucan content than Kanota and contributed all of the positive alleles in the Kanota × Marion cross. Three of the β-glucan QTL regions identified have been previously implicated as having a significant influence on the groat oil content in oat. These correlated QTL regions were either in coupling phase, with a region from one parent having the same effect on both traits, or were in repulsion phase. Identification of coupling- and repulsion-phase QTL regions for β-glucan and oil content facilitates the use of markers in manipulating these traits in oat breeding. Received: 8 September 1999 / Accepted: 25 March 2000     

The effect of autoclaving on the dispersibility and stability of three neutral polysaccharides in dilute aqueous solutions

The dispersibility of three neutral polysaccharides, oat β-glucan, detarium xyloglucan and dextran in a dilute water–cadoxen mixture was studied by viscosity measurement. It was found that intrinsic viscosity measurement, with water–cadoxen mixtures as solvents, is a useful tool to distinguish polymer degradation from disruption of supramolecular aggregates. This approach, in conjunction with size exclusion chromatography, was used to study the effects of heat and pressure treatment on the dispersibility and stability of three polysaccharides in aqueous solutions. Autoclaving treatment at 121°C for 15 min may reduce the degree of aggregation. Following autoclaving in aqueous solution, the Huggins constants decreased from 0.66 to 0.42 for oat β-glucan and from 0.63 to 0.56 for detarium xyloglucan. It remains the same for dextran, indicating good solubility of this polymer in water. The current treatment did not cause evident changes in molecular weight and structures to detarium xyloglucan and dextran. However, degradation occurred with oat β-glucan. The Burchard–Stockmayer–Fixman approach was applied to estimate the unperturbed dimension of oat β-glucan and detarium xyloglucan on samples after autoclaving. The characteristic ratio C_∞ was found to be 7.3 for detarium xyloglucan and 4.7 for oat β-glucan, corresponding to the Kratky–Porod persistence lengths of 2.0 and 1.2 nm, respectively.     

Genome-wide association study for oat (Avena sativa L.) beta-glucan concentration using germplasm of worldwide origin

Detection of quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling complex traits followed by selection has become a common approach for selection in crop plants. The QTL are most often identified by linkage mapping using experimental F₂, backcross, advanced inbred, or doubled haploid families. An alternative approach for QTL detection are genome-wide association studies (GWAS) that use pre-existing lines such as those found in breeding programs. We explored the implementation of GWAS in oat (Avena sativa L.) to identify QTL affecting β-glucan concentration, a soluble dietary fiber with several human health benefits when consumed as a whole grain. A total of 431 lines of worldwide origin were tested over 2?years and genotyped using Diversity Array Technology (DArT) markers. A mixed model approach was used where both population structure fixed effects and pair-wise kinship random effects were included. Various mixed models that differed with respect to population structure and kinship were tested for their ability to control for false positives. As expected, given the level of population structure previously described in oat, population structure did not play a large role in controlling for false positives. Three independent markers were significantly associated with β-glucan concentration. Significant marker sequences were compared with rice and one of the three showed sequence homology to genes localized on rice chromosome seven adjacent to the CslF gene family, known to have β-glucan synthase function. Results indicate that GWAS in oat can be a successful option for QTL detection, more so with future development of higher-density markers.     

Screening of microalgae for primary metabolites including β-glucans and the influence of nitrate starvation and irradiance on β-glucan production

Βeta-glucans, widespread glucose polymers in mushrooms, yeasts, and bacteria, but rarely found in microalgae, have wide applications and high medicinal and economical potential. Some β-glucans like paramylon from algae-like Euglena gracilis are well investigated, but there is little information about the β-glucan content of microalgae. Therefore, more than 40 species of cultured microalgae have been investigated for composition of their biomass regarding to lipids, carbohydrates including β-glucans and proteins. Most of algae species showed a rather similar biomass composition of about 10 % lipids, 25 % carbohydrates, and 40 % proteins if they have been cultivated in a full medium, rather low light conditions of 50 μmol photons m^?2 s^?1, 12/12 h light/dark cycle under aeration and a temperature of 25?±?2 °C. The content of β-glucans varied between 1.7 and 24.2 % of dry weight, respectively. Two microalgae, Scenedesmus ovalternus SAG 52.80 and Porphyridium purpureum SAG 1380-1d with a yield of more than 20 % of dry weight were identified as the best β-glucan producers under standard cultivation conditions. Culture optimization experiments revealed that enhanced irradiance increased the β-glucan content of Scenedesmus obtusiusculus A 189, a novel green algae isolate, from 6.4 to 19.5 %, but the β-glucan content of the green alga S. ovalternus SAG 52.80 remained unaffected (24.2 vs. 23.3 %). Nitrate starvation enhanced the β-glucan content of S. obtusiusculus A 189 from 16 to 23 % and of S. ovalternus SAG 52.80 from 23.3 to 36.7 %.