Structure of a -D-glucan from the mycelial wall of Basidiomycete QM 806

A water-soluble β-D-glucan has been isolated from the mycelial wall of Basidiomycete QM 806. The structure of this glucan was investigated by methylation, periodate, and enzymic studies. Hydrolysis of the methylated glucan gave 2,3,4,6-tetra-, 2,4,6-, 2,3,4- and 2,3,6-tri-, and 2,4-di-O-methyl-D-glucose in the following molar proportions: 1.0:1.0:O.8:1.2:1.0. Periodate oxidation of the glucan followed by reduction and mild acid hydrolysis gave glycerol, erythritol, and D-glucose in the molar proportions, 2.1, 1.0, and 2.0, respectively. The glucan was degraded to the extent of 38% by an exo-β-(1→3)-glucanase isolated from the same organism, though the branch points (joined through O-1, O-3, and O-6) appeared to be resistant to the enzyme whereas the (1→4) linkages were not. On the basis of these findings, the structure of the glucan and the possible role of the glucanase are discussed.