Some reactions of 1,6-di-O-p-tolylsulphonyl-D-mannitol and its derivatives

Nucleophilic displacement of 4,4′-di-O-mesyl-α,α-trehalose hexabenzoate occurred very readily to give, by a double inversion, the thermodynamically more stable 4,4′-di-iodide in 93% yield with overall retention of configuration. Reductive dehalogenation of the 4,4′-di-iodide with hydrazine hydrate—Raney nickel followed by debenzoylation afforded 4,4′-dideoxytrehalose in high, overall yield. Alternatively, treatment of trehalose with sulphuryl chloride afforded 4,6-dichloro-4,6-dideoxy-α-D-galactopyranosyl 4,6-dichloro-4,6-dideoxy-α-D-galactopyranoside, which underwent selective dehalogenation at the secondary positions on treatment with hydrazine hydrate—Raney nickel. Subsequent nucleophilic displacement of the primary chlorine substituents with sodium acetate in N,N-dimethylformamide gave, after deacetylation, 4,4′-dideoxy-α,α-trehalose. Repeated treatment of the 4,4′,6,6′-tetrachlorotrehalose derivative with hydrazine hydrate—Raney nickel gave 4,4′,6,6′-tetradeoxy-α,α-trehalose. An alternative route to the tetradeoxy derivative was via thiocyanate displacement of the 4,4′,6,6′-tetramethanesulphonate. The tetrathiocyanate, formed in poor yield, was desulphurized with Raney nickel to give the tetradeoxytrehalose. Treatment of 4,6-dichloro-4,6-dideoxy-α-D-galactopyranosyl 4,6-dichloro-4,6-dideoxy-α-D-galactopyranoside with methanolic sodium methoxide yielded, initially, 3,6-anhydro-4-chloro-4-deoxy-α-D-galactopyranosyl 4,6- dichloro-4,6-dideoxy-α-D-galactopyranoside which was transformed into the 3,6:3′,6′-dianhydro derivative. Reductive dechlorination of the dianhydride proceeded smoothly to give the 3,6:3′,6′-dianhydride of 4,4′-dideoxytrehalose.     

Nucleophilic replacement reactions of sulphonates : Part VII. Selective tosylation of methyl 2-benzamido-2-deoxy-α-D-glucopyranoside and a synthesis of methyl 2-benzamido-2,3,6-trideoxy-α-D-ribo-hexopyranoside

Selective tosylation of methyl 2-benzamido-2-deoxy-α-D-glucopyranoside at room temperature gave a mixture of the 6-sulphonate and the 3,6- and 4,6-disulphonates in yields of 25, 20, and 12%, respectively. Treatment of the 4-acetate of the 3,6-disulphonate with iodide ion gave the 3,6-di-iodo-D-gluco derivative, with overall retention of configuration involving participation of the 2-benzamido substituent in the substitution of the 3-tosyl group and formation of an intermediary oxazolinium ion. Reduction of the 3,6-di-iodo derivative gave methyl 2-benzamido-2,3,6-trideoxy-α-D-ribo-hexopyranoside. The disulphonates, characterised as their monoacetates, were synthesised from methyl 2-benzamido-4,6-O-benzylidene-2-deoxy-α-D-glucopyranoside by unambiguous routes, each of which was superior to selective tosylation.     

Bitter phenylpropanoid glycosides from Lilium speciosum var. rubrum

Seven bitter ferulic acid esters of sucrose have been isolated from Lilium speciosum var. rubrum. These compounds were identified as 3,6′-diferuloylsucrose, 4-acetyl-3,6′-diferuloylsucrose, 6-acetyl-3,6′-diferuloylsucrose, 4′-acetyl-3,6′-diferuloylsucrose, 4,6-diacetyl-3,6′-diferuloylsucrose, 6,3′-diacetyl-3,6′-diferuloylsucrose and 4,6,3′-triacetyl-3,6′-diferuloylsucrose on the basis of spectroscopic studies.     

Methylation analysis of carrageenans from the seaweed Iridaea undulosa

Two carrageenans from Iridaea undulosa, isolated by precipitation of the crude polysaccharide at O.70–1.05 M and 1.55–1.65 M KCl concentrations, were studied by methylation analysis. Acid hydrolysis of the methylated derivative of the less soluble carrageenan (molar ratio galactose: 3,6-anhydrogalactose: sulphate 1.00: 0.50: 1.20) yielded major amounts of 2,6-di-O-methylgalactose (51.3 mol %), 4,6-di-O-methylgalactose (25.6%) and 4-O-methylgalactose (51.3mol%), 4,6-di-O-methylgalactose (25.6%) and 4-O-methylgalactose (13.4%). Minor quantities of 3-O-methylgalactose (4.6%) and 6-O-methylgalactose (3.2%) were found together with traces of 2,3,6- and/or 2,4,6-tri-O-methylgalactose, 2-O-methylgalactose and galactose. Oxidative acid hydrolysis produced 3,6-anhydro-2-O-methylgalactonic acid and 3,6-anhydrogalactonic acid in a molar ratio 3.5-4.0:1.0. The methylated derivative of the more soluble carrageenan (molar ratio galactose:3,6-anhydrogalactose:sulphate 1.00:0.04:1.43) gave on acid hydrolysis, 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-methylgalactose (4.6%), 2,3,6-tri-O-methylgalactose (4.2%), 2,4,6-tri-O-methylgalactose (10.7%), 4,6-di-O-methylgalactose (24.1%), 3,6-di-0-methylgalactose (8.0%), 2,3-di-O- methylgalactose (3.4%), 2,4-di-O-methylgalactose (4.6%), 2,6-di-O-methylgalactose (4.2%), 3-O-methylgalactose (19.5%),4-O-methylgalactose (9.6%),6-O-methylgalactose(3.1%),galactose (3.4%)and traces of 2-O-methylgalactose.     

两种灵芝孢子粉多糖的分离纯化和结构

本文采用水提醇沉法从灵芝孢子粉中提取其粗多糖,经Sepharose CL-6B凝胶柱层析分离得两种主要成分LBPI和LBPII,经高效液相色谱鉴定,均为高均一性成分,分子量分别为9.17×10 ⁴和1.86×10 ⁴;经酸水解、乙酰化和气相色谱分析,确定LBPI的单糖组成为甘露糖、半乳糖和葡萄糖,LBPII的单糖组成为鼠李糖、甘露糖、半乳糖和葡萄糖;通过高碘酸氧化、甲基化和GC-MS进行结构分析,确定LBPI中葡萄糖残基连接方式为1→、1→4,6和1→3,6连接,半乳糖残基为1→6连接,甘露糖残基为1→3,6连接,LBPII中鼠李糖残基连接方式为1→连接,葡萄糖残基为1→、1→4、1→6、1→4,6和1→3,6连接,半乳糖残基为1→6连接,甘露糖残基为1→2,3,6连接。综上,两种多糖LBPI和LBPII均为多分支的中型杂多糖,但两者的单糖组成和连接方式存在差异,这两种多糖成分均为首次报道,可望为灵芝孢子粉的成分、活性研究和资源开发提供理论依据。     

The preparation of 4,6-dichloro-4,6-dideoxy-α-d-galactopyranosyl 6-chloro-6-deoxy-,β-d-fructofuranoside and the conversion of chlorinated derivatives into anhydrides

Under carefully controlled conditions, sucrose is converted by selective reaction with sulphuryl chloride into either 6-chloro-6-deoxy-α-d-glucopyranosyl 6-chloro-6-deoxy-β-d-fructofuranoside or 4,6-dichloro-4,6-dideoxy-α-d-galactopyranosyl 6-chloro-6-deoxy-β-d-fructofuranoside, which could be isolated without recourse to chromatography. Treatment of the dichloride with sodium methoxide gave 3,6-anhydro-β-d-glucopyranosyl, 3,6-anhydro-β-d-fructofuranoside in high yield. In contrast, 4,6-dichloro-4,6-dideoxy-α-d-galactopyranosyl 6-chloro-6-deoxy-β-d-fructofuranoside gave, in two distinct stages, 3,6-anhydro-4-chloro-4-deoxy-α-d-galactopyranosyl 6-chloro-6-deoxy-β-d-fructofuranoside and 3,6-anhydro-4-chloro-4-deoxy-α-d-galactopyranosyl 3,6-anhydro-β-d-fructofuranoside. The structures of these products were ascertained by ¹H-n.m.r. and mass spectrometry.     

Chlorination and phosphorylation of cotton cellulose by reaction with phosphoryl chloride in N,N-dimethylformamide

Native cotton yarn reacts rapidly with phosphoryl chloride in N,N-dimethylformamide to produce highly chlorinated cellulose (degree of substitution of 0.5 or greater), phosphorylated cellulose, and cellulose formate. The ratio of chlorination to phosphorylation was readily controlled by varying the concentration of phosphoryl chloride in N,N-dimethylformamide.Reaction variables studied were the reagent concentration, reaction temperature, and reaction time. The effect that each of these variables has on the tensile and flammability properties of the resultant yarns was investigated. Yarns containing large proportions of chlorine have high tensile-strength and are unusually extensible, whereas yarns containing phosphorus have high flame-resistance. A mechanism for the selective chlorination or phosphorylation of the cotton cellulose is advanced.     

Studies on the reaction with N-bromosuccinimide of fixed 2-phenyl-1,3-dioxolane systems in methyl di-O-benzylidene-α-D-hexopyranosides

The reaction of methyl 2,3:4,6-di-O-benzylidene-α-D-mannopyranoside (5) with N-bromosuccinimide gave mainly three, isomeric dibromo dibenzoates, identified as the 3,6-dibromo-altro (1), 3,6-dibromo-manno (2), and 4,6-dibromo-ido (3) derivatives by subsequent chemical transformation and by extended n.m.r.-spectral studies. The reaction of methyl 2,3:4,6-O-benzylidene-α-D-allopyranoside (22) with N-bromosuccinimide gave two isomeric dibromo dibenzoates, the 2,6-dibromo-altro (23) and 3,6-dibromo-gluco (24) products, and their structures were similarly assigned. A similar reaction-sequence with methyl 2,3:4,6-di-O-benzylidene-α-D-glucopyranoside (32), however, yielded two isomeric monobenzoates 33 and 34, which could be identified straightforwardly. The results are consistent with the intermediate formation of benzoxonium ions that undergo favored axial attack. Thus the observed products and their ratios in reactions of 5 and of 22 with N-bromo-succinimide are explicable. Compound 32, however, does not appear to react by way of an intermediate, five-membered 2,3-trans benzoxonium ion.     

The carrageenans of gigartina skottsbergii s. et g. : Part III. methylation analysis of the fraction precipitated with 0.3-0.4m potassium chloride

The fraction of carrageenan from the red seaweed Gigartina skottsbergii that is precipitated with 0.3-0.4m potassium chloride has been studied by methylation analysis. The results agree qualitatively with the structure previously suggested, except that 3-linked D-galactose 4-sulfate residues are present rather than the corresponding 2-sulfate. For every ten D-galactose residues linked at C-3, there are, on the average, six residues of 3,6-anhydro-D-galactose linked at C-4 and ten sulfate groups (five as 3,6-anhydro-D-galactose 2-sulfate and five as D-galactose 4-sulfate residues).     

Synthesis of spacer-equipped phosphorylated di-, tri- and tetrasaccharide fragments of the O-specific polysaccharide of Vibrio cholerae O139

The synthesis of oligosaccharide fragments of the O-specific polysaccharide of Vibrio cholerae O139 containing a 4,6-cyclic phosphate galactose residue linked to GlcNAc is described. 8-Azido-3,6-dioxaoctyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->3)-2-acetamido-4,6-O-benzylidene-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranoside, obtained by condensation of 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl bromide and 8-azido-3,6-dioxaoctyl 2-acetamido-4,6-O-benzylidene-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranoside, was converted to 8-azido-3,6-dioxaoctyl 3-O-benzyl-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->3)-2-acetamido-6-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranoside (6) by reductive opening of the acetal, followed by deacetylation and selective benzylation. Phosphorylation of 6 furnished two isomeric 4,6-cyclic 2,2,2-trichloroethyl phosphates. Glycosylation of the (S)-phosphate with 2,4-di-O-benzyl-3,6-dideoxy-alpha-L-xylo-hexopyranosyl bromide under halide-assisted conditions gave the desired tetrasaccharide, together with a trisaccharide. Global deprotection and reduction of the azide to an amine was effected by catalytic hydrogenation/hydrogenolysis to give the deprotected tetrasaccharide, which is functionalized for conjugation.     

Mechanism of the formation of concanavalin A-teichoic acid complexes

The preparation of water-insoluble carbonates of cellulose, diethylaminoethylcellulose, nigeran, and xylan, containing trans-2,3-carbonate groups, is described. The occurrence of a carbonyl peak in the i.r. spectrum of inulin carbonate at 1820 cm^?1, in addition to one corresponding to acyclic carbonate (O-ethoxycarbonyl, 1750 cm^?1), was attributable to formation of the strained trans-4,6-carbonate group on the fructofuranose residues of the inulin chain, in addition to the formation of the trans-2,3-carbonate group on the relatively small number of terminal d-glucopyranose residues. The relative contents of acyclic carbonate of the products appeared to be a function of the reaction conditions rather than the availability of a free hydroxyl group at C-6. The presence of carboxyl groups in carboxymethylcellulose and alginic acid prevented the formation of trans- and cis-2,3-carbonate groups, respectively, but derivatisation of alginic acid propylene glycol ester was successful. Specialised procedures were required for the isolation of cyclohexa-amylose and cyclohepta-amylose carbonates.     

Analysis of the lipopolysaccharide of Pseudomonas maltophilia 555

The phenol phase soluble lipopolysaccharide of Pseudomonas maltophilia strain 555, obtained from cells by the hot aqueous phenol method, was of the smooth type. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, hydrolysis, methylation, and 13C and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance analyses showed that this lipopolysaccharide has an O-chain polysaccharide composed of a repeating pentasaccharide unit, containing D-rhamnose (D-Rha, one part), 3-acetamido-3,6-dideoxy-D-galactose (D-Fuc3NAc, one part), and 4-acetamido-4,6-dideoxy-D-mannose (D-Rha4NAc, three parts) and having the structure (formula; see text) The serological cross-reactions between P. maltophilia 555 and Brucella species can now be related to the occurrence of N-acyl derivatives of 4-amino-4,6-dideoxy-D-mannopyranosyl residues in the O-chains of their respective lipopolysaccharide components.     

A facile approach to anhydrogalactosucrose derivatives from chlorinated sucrose

Three new anhydrosucrose derivatives: 1,4:3,6-dianhydro-beta-D-fructofuranosyl 4-chloro-4-deoxy-alpha-D-galactopyranoside (4), 1,4:3,6-dianhydro-beta-D-fructofuranosyl 3,6-anhydro-4-chloro-4-deoxy-alpha-D-galactopyranoside (6) and 1,6-dichloro-1,6-dideoxy-beta-D-fructofuranosyl-3,6-anhydro-4-chloro-4-deoxy-alpha-D-galactopyranoside (8) were prepared from chlorinated sucrose. The structures of these anhydrides were confirmed by their (1)H and (13)C NMR spectra, ESIMS and elemental analysis. The crystal structures of 6 and the acetate of 4 (5) are presented. The relative reactivity of the chloromethyl groups towards S(N)2 reactions in 1,6-dichloro-1,6-dideoxy-beta-d-fructofuranosyl 4,6-dichloro-4,6-dideoxy-alpha-D-galactopyranoside was found to be in order 6>6'>1'.     

Sulfated and pyruvylated disaccharide alditols obtained from a red seaweed galactan: ESIMS and NMR approaches

The water-soluble acid agaran isolated from Acanthophora spicifera (Rhodophyta) was submitted to alkaline treatment for the complete cyclization of alpha-L-Galp 6-sulfate to 3,6-An-alpha-L-Galp units. The modified agaran was then partially depolymerized using partial reductive hydrolysis. The resulting oligosaccharide mixture was fractionated by adsorption and ion-exchange chromatography. Fractions were purified by gel-filtration chromatography and studied by ESIMS and NMR spectroscopy, including 1D 1H, 13C, DEPT and 2D 1H, 1H COSY, TOCSY and 1H, 13C HMQC procedures. The following neutral, pyruvylated, sulfated and sulfated/pyruvylated disaccharide alditols were obtained: beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)-3,6-An-L-GalOH; 4,6-O-(1-carboxyethylidene)-beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)-3,6-An-L-GalOH; beta-D-Galp 2-sulfate-(1-->4)-3,6-An-L-GalOH and 4,6-O-(1-carboxyethylidene)-beta-D-Galp 2-sulfate-(1-->4)-3,6-An-L-GalOH.     

Oxidative addition of 3,6-di-tert-butyl-o-benzoquinone and 4,6-di-tert-butyl-N-(2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl)-o-iminobenzoquinone to SnCl2

Addition of 3,6-di-tert-butyl-o-benzoquinone (3,6-DBBQ) to SnCl₂ in THF leads to the oxidation of Sn(II) to Sn(IV) with formation of catecholate complex (3,6-DBCat)SnCl₂ · 2THF (1), where 3,6-DBCat is 3,6-di-tert-butyl-catecholate dianion. The reaction of 4,6-di-tert-butyl-N-(2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl)-o-iminobenzoquinone (IBQ-Prⁱ) also proceeds on the oxidative-addition mechanism yielding bis-iminosemiquinonato species (ISQ-Prⁱ)₂SnCl₂(2), where ISQ-Prⁱ is anion-radical 4,6-di-tert-butyl-N-(2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl)-o-iminobenzosemiquinolate. The complexes have been characterized by IR, X-band EPR, ¹H NMR (for 1) spectroscopy and magnetochemistry (for 2). X-ray analysis data show the distorted octahedral environment of tin(IV) for both complexes. Complex 1 is diamagnetic (ground state S = 0), while 2 has triplet ground state (S = 1, biradical). Catecholate complex 1 is able to be a spin trap for different organic radicals.     

Synthesis of the 6-methyl and 3,6- and 4,6-dimethyl ethers of methyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-α-D-mannopyranoside

The 6-mono- (6) and 4,6- (16) and 3,6-di-methyl (25) ethers of methyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-α-D-mannopyranoside have been synthesized from 6-O-trityl, 4,6-O-benzylidene, and 3-O-methyl derivatives, respectively, by way of O-benzoyl and of O-allyl derivatives. The yields were respectively 37 and 43% for 6, 34 and 50% for 16, and 14 and 25% for 25. These ethers are used as standard compounds for the structure elucidation, by methylation, of polymers containing 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-mannose.     

Polysaccharide structure of tetrasporic red seaweed Tichocarpus crinitus

Sulfated polysaccharide isolated from tetrasporic plants of Tichocarpus crinitus was investigated. The polysaccharide was isolated by two methods: with water extraction at 80 °C (HT) and with a mild alkaline extraction (AE). The extracted polysaccharides were presented by non-gelling ones only, while galactose and 3,6-AG were the main monosaccharides, at the same time amount of 3,6-AG in AE polysaccharides was the similar to that of HT. According to methods of spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, the polysaccharide from tetrasporic T. crinitus contains main blocks of 1,3-linked β-d-galactopyranosyl-2,4-disulfates and 1,4-linked 3,6-anhydro-α-d-galactopyranosyl while 6-sulfated 4-linked galactopyranosyl resudies are randomly distributed along the polysaccharide chain. The alkaline treatment of HT polysaccharide results in obtaining polysaccharide with regular structure that composed of alternating 1,3-linked β-d-galactopyranosyl-2,4-disulfates and 1,4-linked 3,6-anhydro-α-d-galactopyranosyl residues. Native polysaccharide (HT) possessed both high anticoagulant and antiplatelet activity measured by fibrin clotting and platelet aggregation induced by collagen. This activity could be connected with peculiar chemical structure of HT polysaccharide which has high sulfation degree and contains also 3,6-anhydrogalactose in the polymer chain.     

Mice Deficient in N-Acetylgalactosamine 4-Sulfate 6-O-Sulfotransferase Are Unable to Synthesize Chondroitin/Dermatan Sulfate containing N-Acetylgalactosamine 4,6-Bissulfate Residues and Exhibit Decreased Protease Activity in Bone Marrow-derived Mast Cells

Chondroitin sulfate (CS) and dermatan sulfate (DS) containing N-acetylgalactosamine 4,6-bissulfate (GalNAc(4,6-SO₄)) show various physiological activities through interacting with numerous functional proteins. N-Acetylgalactosamine 4-sulfate 6-O-sulfotransferase (GalNAc4S-6ST) transfers sulfate from 3′-phosphoadenosine 5′-phosphosulfate to position 6 of N-acetylgalactosamine 4-sulfate in CS or DS to yield GalNAc(4,6-SO₄) residues. We here report generation of transgenic mice that lack GalNAc4S-6ST. GalNAc4S-6ST-null mice were born normally and fertile. In GalNAc4S-6ST-null mice, GalNAc(4,6-SO₄) residues in CS and DS disappeared completely, indicating that GalNAc4S-6ST should be a sole enzyme responsible for the synthesis of GalNAc(4,6-SO₄) residues in both CS and DS. IdoA-GalNAc(4,6-SO₄) units that account for ∼40% of total disaccharide units of DS in the liver of the wild-type mice disappeared in the liver DS of GalNAc4S-6ST-null mice without reduction of IdoA content. Bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) derived from GalNAc4S-6ST-null mice contained CS without GlcA-GalNAc(4,6-SO₄) units. Tryptase and carboxypeptidase A activities of BMMCs derived from GalNAc4S-6ST-null mice were lower than those activities of BMMCs derived from wild-type mice, although mRNA expression of these mast cell proteases was not altered. Disaccharide compositions of heparan sulfate/heparin contained in the mast cells derived from BMMCs in the presence of stem cell factor were much different from those of heparan sulfate/heparin in BMMCs but did not differ significantly between wild-type mice and GalNAc4S-6ST-null mice. These observations suggest that CS containing GalNAc(4,6-SO₄) residues in BMMCs may contribute to retain the active proteases in the granules of BMMCs but not for the maturation of BMMCs into connective tissue-type mast cells.     

Higher plant cellulose synthases

Cellulose, an aggregate of unbranched polymers of β-1,4-linked glucose residues, is the major component of wood and thus paper, and is synthesized by plants, most algae, some bacteria and fungi, and even some animals. The genes that synthesize cellulose in higher plants differ greatly from the well-characterized genes found in Acetobacter and Agrobacterium sp. More correctly designated as 'cellulose synthase catalytic subunits', plant cellulose synthase (CesA) proteins are integral membrane proteins, approximately 1,000 amino acids in length. The sequences for more than 20 full-length CesA genes are available, and they show high similarity to one another across the entire length of the encoded protein, except for two small regions of variability. There are a number of highly conserved residues, including several motifs shown to be necessary for processive glycosyltransferase activity. No crystal structure is known for cellulose synthase proteins, and the exact enzymatic mechanism is unknown. There are a number of mutations in cellulose synthase genes in the model organism Arabidopsis thaliana. Some of these mutants show altered morphology due to the lack of a properly developed primary or secondary cell wall. Others show resistance to well-characterized cellulose biosynthesis inhibitors.     

Roles of Cellulose and Xyloglucan in Determining the Mechanical Properties of Primary Plant Cell Walls

The primary cell walls of growing and fleshy plant tissue mostly share a common set of molecular components, cellulose, xyloglucan (XyG), and pectin, that are required for both inherent strength and the ability to respond to cell expansion during growth. To probe molecular mechanisms underlying material properties, cell walls and analog composites from Acetobacter xylinus have been measured under small deformation and uniaxial extension conditions as a function of molecular composition. Small deformation oscillatory rheology shows a common frequency response for homogenized native cell walls, their sequential extraction residues, and bacterial cellulose alone. This behavior is characteristic of structuring via entanglement of cellulosic rods and is more important than cross-linking with XyG in determining shear moduli. Compared with cellulose alone, composites with XyG have lower stiffness and greater extensibility in uniaxial tension, despite being highly cross-linked at the molecular level. It is proposed that this is due to domains of cross-linked cellulose behaving as mechanical elements, whereas cellulose alone behaves as a mat of individual fibrils. The implication from this work is that XyG/cellulose networks provide a balance of extensibility and strength required by primary cell walls, which is not achievable with cellulose alone.