Partial structure of a polysaccharide from leaves of Welwitschia mirabilis

Gum-tears from the leaves of Welwitschia mirabilis contain a polysaccharide composed of arabinose, galactose and glucuronic acid as main constituents with xylose, fucose and rhamnose in smaller quantities. Periodate oxidation and permethylation studies indicated that the gum could consist of a framework of glucuronic acid residues linked 1 → 4 and galactose residues linked 1 → 6 and of short chains of arabinose, xylose, fucose and rhamnose linked 1 → 3 to both residues. All rhamnose and fucose and part of arabinose were found as non-reducing terminal units.     

Chemical characterisation of the released polysaccharide from the cyanobacterium Aphanothece halophytica GR02

The released polysaccharide from the halophilic cyanobacterium Aphanothece halophytica GR02 was separated into two main fractions byanion-exchange chromatography. The major fraction consisted of glucose,fucose, mannose, arabinose and glucuronic acid. Judging from thechromatography on Sepharose 2B, the major fraction was not furtherfractionated, and its apparent molecular weight was above 2.0 × 10⁶ Da.The minor fraction consisted of rhamnose, mannose, fucose,glucose, galactose and glucuronic acid, with traces of arabinose.Methylation and GC-MS spectrometry analyses of the major fractionrevealed the presence of 1-linked glucose, 1,3-linked glucose, 1,3-linkedfucose, 1,4-linked fucose, 1,3-linked arabinose, 1,2,4-linked mannose,1,3,6-linked mannose, 1-linked glucuronic acid and 1,3-linked glucuronicacid residues. The major fraction was thought to originate from capsularpolysaccharide. The released polysaccharides, obtained from cultures atdifferent age of culture, showed no striking variations in themonosaccharide composition and the relative proportions of themonosaccharides. However, the proportions of galactose and rhamnose inthe released polysaccharides, obtained from cultures under different salinity,were significantly different. The released polysaccharide also exhibitedgelling properties and strong affinity for metal ions.     

Characterization and antioxidant activity of Ginkgo biloba exocarp polysaccharides

Ginkgo biloba exocarp polysaccharide (GBEP) was obtained by hot water extraction, the crude polysaccharide was deproteinized by Sevag method and fractionized by a DEAE Sepharose fast flow anion-exchange column. Five fragments were obtained, including neutral polysaccharide (GBEP-N) and four acidic polysaccharides (GBEP-A1, GBEP-A2, GBEP-A3 and GBEP-A4). GBEP-N and GBEP-A3 were further purified by Superdex 200 gel column chromatography. The resulted two fractions GBEP-NN, and GBEP-AA were characterized by FT-IR, and HPGFC (high pressure gel filtration chromatography). Monosaccharide composition was determined by RP-HPLC method of precolumn derivatization with 1-phenyl-3-5-pyrazolone. GBEP-NN was mainly composed of rhamnose, arabinose, mannose, glucose and galactose, while GBEP-AA was mainly made up of mannose, rhamnose, glucuronic acid, galacturonic acid, galactosamine, glucose, galactose, xylose, arabinose, and fucose. The crude GBEP exhibited certain antioxidant activity. At the concentration of 5 mg/mL, the hydroxyl radical scavenging effect of GBEP was 90.52%, greater than 77.37% for the positive control ascorbic acid.     

Water-soluble polysaccharides from Ginkgo biloba leaves.

The water-soluble polysaccharides from dried Ginkgo biloba leaves were isolated after exhaustive extraction with organic solvents. The polysaccharide mixture could be separated into a neutral (GF1) and two acidic (GF2 and GF3) polysaccharide fractions by ion exchange chromatography. According to the Mr distribution GF1 and GF3 seemed to be homogenous, whereas GF2 could be further fractionated into two subfractions (GF2a and GF2b) by gel permeation chromatography. GF1 (Mr 23,000) showed the structural features of a branched arabinan. The main chain was composed of 1,5-linked arabinose residues and three in 12 arabinose molecules were branched via C-2 or C-3. GF2a (Mr 500,000) consisted mainly of 1,2,4-branched mannose (29%), 1,4-linked glucuronic (32%) and galacturonic (8%) acid as well as terminal rhamnose (25%). After removal of ca 70% of the terminal rhamnose the remaining polysaccharide showed a decrease in 1,2,4-branched mannose and an increase in 1,2-linked mannose indicating that at least half of the rhamnose residues were linked to mannose via C-4. GF3 (Mr 40,000) consisted of 1,4-linked galacturonic (30%) and glucuronic (16) acid, 1,3,6-branched galactose (15%), 1,2-linked (5%) and 1,2,4-branched (3.5%) rhamnose as well as 1,5-linked arabinose (11%). Rhamnose (5%) and arabinose (10%) were present as terminal groups. Mild acid hydrolysis selectively cleaved arabinose and the remaining polysaccharide showed an increased amount of 1,6-linked and terminal galactose and a decreased quantity of 1,3,6-branched galactose. These results indicated that the terminal as well as the 1,5-linked arabinose were mainly connected to galactose via C-3. The GF3 polysaccharide appeared to be a rhamnogalacturonan with arabinogalactan side chains.     

STRUCTURE OF EXTRACELLULAR POLYSACCHARIDES PRODUCED BY A SOIL CRYPTOMONAS SP. (CRYPTOPHYCEAE)1

The Hindak strain of a Cryptomonas species (Cryptophyceae) produces extracellular polysaccharides. Because there is no information on the structure of these compounds in the Cryptophyceae we conducted structural studies. Gas–liquid chromatographic analyses showed that the polysaccharide is composed of fucose, rhamnose, xylose, mannose, glucose, galactose, galacturonic acid, glucuronic acid, and traces of 3-O-methyl galactose. The polysaccharide was separated into two subtractions by ion-exchange chromatography. Fraction A consisted mainly of 1,3-linked galactose units and 1,4-linked galacturonic acid. Unlike fraction B, fraction A did not have xylose, 3-O-methyl galactose, or glucuronic acid. Also, its degree of branching was low compared to that of fraction B. Only traces of sulfate were present infraction A, but fraction B was 10–15% sulfated. Protein was approximately 1% in both fractions. These polysaccharides appear to be a novel type of polymer in algae.     

STRUCTURE OF THE CAPSULAR AND EXTRACELLULAR POLYSACCHARIDES PRODUCED BY THE DESMID SPONDYLOSIUM PANDURIFORME (CHLOROPHYTA)1

The filamentous desmid Spondylosium panduriforme (Heimerl) Teiling var. panduriforme f. limneticum (West & West) Teiling (Desmidiaceae), strain 072CH-UFCAR, is surrounded by a well-defined, mucilaginous capsule consisting of a capsular polysaccharide (CPS). This microalga also produces an extracellular polysaccharide (EPS), which can be isolated from the culture medium. Analysis of the carbohydrate composition of the two polymers by gas chromatography showed that they were different. Both were composed, of galactose, fucose, xylose, arabinose, rhamnose, and glucose but in different amounts. For example, glucuronic acid accounts for 24% of the EPS material but only traces were found in the CPS. Significant differences were also found during methylation analysis. Fucose appeared to have a higher degree of branching in the EPS than in the CPS. These branches were located on C-3 and could be the position for the attachment of the glucuronic acid units in the EPS. The glucuronic acid was present as 1→4-linked and terminal units. A possible explanation for the formation of the EPS is suggested.     

Glycoproteins of the opium poppy

Two carbohydrate-protein fractions were isolated from the water-soluble biopolymer from opium poppy capsules by chromatography on SP-Sephadex. The carbohydrate chains are composed of arabinose, rhamnose, xylose, mannose, glucose, galactose, galacturonic acid, glucuronic acid and 4-O-methyl glucuronic acid. Methylation analysis indicated a high degree of branching suggesting a very complex structure. Treatment of the glycoprotein with NaOH in the presence of NaBH₄ resulted in a significant decrease in the serine and threonine content. The carbohydrate side chains released contained the sugar alcohol, galactitol. These results indicate that polysaccharide chains are linked to protein via serine-O-galactoside linkages.     

Polysaccharides of Soybean Seeds

A polysaccharide fraction extracted from soybean seeds with boiling water was examined by several fractionation methods on ultracentrifugal criteria. Four components were found by a column chromatography using TEAE-cellulose or by a paper electrophoresis. Acetone-precipitation, fractionation by conversion into acetyl derivative, and copper-complex-precipitation were unsatisfactory to fractionate into the components. The major component (70%) isolated was an arabinogalactan containing residues of arabinose and galactose in the approximate proportion of 1 : 2 and having molecular weight of 3.3×10⁵.     

Sargassan: A sulphated heteropolysaccharide from Sargassum linifolium

A new sulphated heteropolysaccharide containing glucuronic acid, mannose, galactose, xylose, fucose and a protein moiety has been extracted from Sargassum linifolium. The polysaccharide extracted with HCl was richer in its carbohydrate and protein contents and contained lower amounts of ash than that extracted with oxalic acid.     

雪灵芝多糖的分离纯化及免疫活性评价

为分离纯化雪灵芝(Arenaria kansuensis)多糖,并对纯化组分进行分子量测定、单糖组分分析及免疫活性评价。实验采用水提醇沉法提取雪灵芝粗多糖(Arenaria kansuensis crude polysaccharide, AKCP);以DEAE-52纤维素柱对AKCP进行分离纯化,获得5个雪灵芝多糖组分AKP-1～AKP-5,进一步采用葡聚糖凝胶G-75柱对AKP-2进行分离纯化获得AKP-2a多糖组分。苯酚-硫酸法测定AKCP、AKP-2及AKP-2a的总糖含量分别为52%、70%和79%;凝胶渗透色谱-十八角度激光光散射(GPC-MALS)法检测AKP-2a的重均分子量Mw为2.07×10~5Da、数均分子量Mn为9.838×10~4Da;HPLC法检测AKP-2a是由半乳糖醛酸、甘露糖、核糖、鼠李糖、葡萄糖醛酸、葡萄糖、半乳糖、木糖、阿拉伯糖、岩藻糖10种单糖组成,其摩尔比为1∶0.25∶0.01∶0.20∶0.11∶0.25∶0.61∶0.07∶0.21∶0.12;以MTT法检测体外培养小鼠脾淋巴细胞增殖,AKCP、AKP-2及AKP-2a各浓度组SI水平,均明显高于对照组(P<0.05)。经NO释放实验及IFN-γELISA检测,AKP-2a各浓度组小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞培养上清中二者的水平,较对照组呈浓度依赖性增高(P<0.01)。综上结果,本研究通过分离纯化,获得了总糖含量较高的雪灵芝多糖AKP-2a组分,初步确定其分子量范围及单糖组成,并证实其具有激活淋巴细胞增殖、促进巨噬细胞功能的生物活性。     

Isolation of polysaccharides from callus culture of Lemna minor L

Two fractions that included acid arabinogalactan and pectin were extracted from the callus culture of duckweed plants (Lemna minor L.) with water and ammonium oxalate. Residues of galactose and arabinose in the 2.0-2.5:1 ratio were the major constituents of acid arabinogalactan. The pectin fraction contained primarily residues of glucuronic acids, galactose, and arabinose. The percentage of arabinogalactan and pectin was similar. The yield of polysaccharide fractions did not depend on the method for their isolation. Extraction with water, treatment of the biomass with an aqueous solution of formalin and diluted hydrochloric acid, and extraction with an aqueous solution of ammonium oxalate allowed us to obtain the highest-purity pectin polysaccharide.     

The polysaccharides of the brown seaweed Turbinaria murrayana

Polysaccharides of the brown seaweed Turbinaria murrayana were isolated. Laminaran (3.2%) was isolated from the hot-water extract of the algae by using ion-exchange chromatography. Fucans (2.1%) were isolated from the hot-water extract, as well (4.7%) as from the extract of the algae with dilute acid. Acid hydrolsysis of the isolated fucans revealed glucose, amnnose, fucose, glucuronic acid, xylose, and galactose. Alginic acid (22.6%) was separated, and reduced to a neutral polysaccharide. The polysaccharides isolated were analyzed by methylation and Smith degradation.     

宁夏不同地区灵武长枣果实多糖的单糖成分分析

以宁夏4个不同地区(灵武、中宁、青铜峡、银川)成熟期的灵武长枣果实为研究对象,经水提醇沉法提取,采用DEAE-cellulose52和HW-55S分离纯化,并利用GC-MS法进行多糖的单糖组成分析。结果表明:多糖提取率最高的是灵武地区,达到1.795%;分离纯化后,4个地区的长枣多糖各得到1个中性(Ju-0)和3个酸性组分(Ju-1、Ju-2、Ju-3),其中Ju-2含量最高;GC-MS分析可知灵武长枣多糖含有阿拉伯糖、鼠李糖、核糖、岩藻糖、木糖、甘露糖、半乳糖、葡萄糖、葡萄糖醛酸、半乳糖醛酸10种单糖,不含果糖,以阿拉伯糖、核糖、半乳糖和2种糖醛酸为主,木糖含量最低。各地区多糖的单糖组成、含量各不相同,从各组分来看,四个地区多糖的Ju-0和Ju-1组分组成均以阿拉伯糖、核糖、半乳糖为主,四个地区多糖的组成差异主要在于Ju-2和Ju-3组分。从各地区单糖总量来看,灵武地区是阿拉伯糖含量最高,中宁、青铜峡、银川地区以葡萄糖醛酸含量为最高。     

Composition of an Extracellular Polysaccharide Produced by Sphaerotilus natans

The capsular polysaccharide of Sphaerotilus natans has been isolated, purified, and analyzed. Chromatographic and chemical analyses performed on acid hydrolyzates of the purified material have shown that the major components are fucose, galactose, glucose, and glucuronic acid in approximately equimolar amounts. Glucose and glucuronic acid are believed to occur as an aldobiuronic acid unit.     

藏药蕨麻多糖的光谱性质及单糖组成分析

本研究对藏药蕨麻多糖进行了分离提纯,并测定其水溶性多糖含量为99.4%;通过紫外光谱与红外光谱分析表明,蕨麻多糖为分子量较小的α-吡喃糖,并含有氨基糖;蕨麻多糖的水解单糖经过NMP衍生后进行毛细管电泳分析,测得其单糖组成为木糖、阿拉伯糖、葡萄糖、鼠李糖、甘露糖、岩藻糖、半乳糖、葡萄糖醛酸和半乳糖醛酸,含量分别为3.945、77.445、17.568、17.646、3.942、2.165、65.268、13.037μg/mg和33.484μg/mg,与GC-MS的定性分析结果一致。     

Patterns of polysaccharide biosynthesis in differentiating cells of maize root-tips

1. The patterns of incorporation of radioactivity from d-[6-(3)H]-, d-[1-(14)C]-, d-[U-(14)C]- and d-[6-(14)C]-glucose and [U-(14)C]myoinositol into the neutral sugars and uronic acids of the polysaccharides synthesized in different regions of the root-tip of maize were determined. 2. The root-cap tissue synthesized a slime in which a polysaccharide that contained a high proportion of fucose (32%) and galactose (21%) was found. This polysaccharide is synthesized only by the root-cap cells, and very little polysaccharide containing fucose is synthesized in adjacent tissues. Part of the meristematic tissue of the root is surrounded by the cap cells. A section of the root that contains both these tissues can be analysed, and the polysaccharide synthesized by the meristematic region can be obtained since the contribution of the root-cap cells can be found by the amount of fucose formed. 3. It was shown that there is very little difference in the polysaccharide synthesis of the meristematic region from that of the cells immediately behind it. In the more mature cells, however, the amount of xylose synthesized relative to that of arabinose is increased, and the proportion of xylose and arabinose formed in the matrix polysaccharides is increased whereas that of galactose is decreased. 4. The effect of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) on polysaccharide synthesis was to bring about a decrease in the relative amount of galactose synthesized in the matrix polysaccharides of cells immediately adjacent to the meristematic region and also in the more mature tissue. The growth factor also increased the amount of xylose synthesized relative to that of arabinose in the more mature tissue. These metabolic effects were related to a very obvious change in the morphological appearance of the root-tips. 5. Radioactivity from [U-(14)C]myoinositol was incorporated mainly into xylose, arabinose and galacturonic acid rather than into the hexoses, although small amounts of these sugars were formed.     

Isolation, purification, and characterization of fucose-containing sulfated polysaccharides from the brown seaweed Ecklonia kurome and their blood-anticoagulant activities

A sulfated polysaccharide fraction, obtained from the hot-water extract of the brown seaweed, Ecklonia kurome by removing laminaran and the major part of alginic acid, gave sulfated polysaccharides (B-I, B-II, C-I, and C-II) by both anion-exchange chromatography on a column of Ecteola-cellulose and by fractional precipitation with ethanol containing 0.3% calcium acetate, and then by gel-filtration chromatography on a Sepharose 4B column. B-I and B-II are composed of fucose, galactose, mannose, xylose, glucuronic acid, and ester sulfate in the approximate molar ratios of 1.00:0.36:0.48:1.08:1.85:2.35 and 1.00:0.81:0.18:0.45:0.61:2.00, respectively. C-I and C-II are composed of fucose, galactose, glucuronic acid, and ester sulfate in approximate molar ratios of 1.00:0.03:0.03:1.61 and 1.00:0.19:0.07:1.48, respectively. Blood-anticoagulant activities with respect to activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) were approximately 24, 19, 81, and 85% of that of heparin for B-I, B-II, C-I, and C-II, respectively. All the polysaccharides showed slight antithrombin activity. No antifactor Xa activity was observed for any of the polysaccharides.     

Structural studies on colanic acid, the common exopolysaccharide found in the Enterobacteriaceae, by partial acid hydrolysis. Oligosaccharides from colanic acid

The exopolysaccharide slime colanic acid has been isolated from representative strains of Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium and Aerobacter cloacae. Analysis showed that each polymer contained glucose, galactose, fucose and glucuronic acid, together with acetate and pyruvate. The molar proportions of these components were 1:1.8:1.9:1:1:1 approximately. On the basis of periodate oxidation of the natural and deacetylated polysaccharide, glucose is proposed as the site of the acetyl groups. The pyruvate is attached to galactose. Three neutral oligosaccharides and ten electrophoretically mobile oligosaccharides were isolated and partially characterized. Four of the fragments were esters of pyruvic acid. Most oligosaccharides were isolated from all three polysaccharide preparations. Three further oligosaccharides were isolated from carboxyl-reduced colanic acid and sodium borotritide was used to label the glucose derived from glucuronic acid in these fragments. One trisaccharide was obtained from periodate-oxidized polysaccharide. On the basis of these oligosaccharides a repeating hexasaccharide unit of the following structure is proposed: [Formula: see text] The significance of this structure in colanic acid biosynthesis is discussed.     

The Composition of Stigmatic Exudate from Lilium longiflorum: Labeling Studies with Myo-inositol, d-Glucose, and l-Proline

Stigmatic exudate, a secretion product recovered from the upper surface of Lilium longiflorum pistils, has been examined. Over 99% of the exudate is accounted for as water, carbohydrate, and protein. Exclusive of water, 95% is a high molecular weight, protein-containing polysaccharide composed of galactose, arabinose, rhamnose, glucuronic acid, and galacturonic acid.     

Study of antioxidant activities of sulfated polysaccharides from Laminaria japonica

The composition, molecular weight and in vitro antioxidant activity of various sulfated polysaccharides obtained by anion exchange chromatography, acid hydrolysis and radical process degradation of the crude sulfated polysaccharide extracted from Laminaria japonica were compared. The low sulfated F-A2, with a peak-molecular weight (Mp) of 5–15 kDa, 14.5% sulfated ester and 21.8% glucuronic acid, exhibited a very strong antioxidant activity on superoxide and hydroxyl radicals, with activity even higher than that of large molecular weight fractions F-A and F-B. However, highly sulfated fractions with a peak-molecular weight below 15 kDa had much lower antioxidant activities than other fractions. These results indicated that the sulfate group of the low molecular weight fractions represents a physical block for the reaction with oxygen radicals. The chemical properties and antioxidant activities of sulfated polysaccharide fractions obtained by radical process degradation of crude sulfated polysaccharide were quite different from those obtained by acid hydrolysates. By radical process degradation, the high molecular weight was decreased to give LM2 (Mp 8 kDa) and LM1 (Mp 1.5 kDa), with a yield of 40% and 15%, respectively. LM2 was enriched with fucose and sulfated ester, while containing low amounts of glucuronic acid. The antioxidant activity showed that LM2 was unable to scavenge either superoxide or hydroxyl radical, which suggested that radical process degradation targeted mainly ascopyllan-like species rich in glucuronic acid, while the fraction rich in sulfated l-fucose remained unchanged. However, LM1 with Mp 1.5 kDa still retained apparent scavenging ability for superoxide radical, although it contained no glucuronic acid and certain amounts of galactose and mannose as main neutral sugars. These result suggest that the antioxidant activity of sulfated polysaccharides is apparently related not only to molecular weight and sulfated ester content, as previously determined, but also to glucuronic acid and fucose content.