1,3-Dideoxynojirimycin-3-yl glycosides of beta-(1-->3)- and beta-(1-->6)-linked gluco-oligosaccharides

Standard chemical methods involving the use of O-acetylated glycosyl trichloroacetimidates as glycosylating agents were used to prepare the five 1,3-dideoxynojirimycin-3-yl beta-(1-->3)-linked oligo-glucosides (1-5) and also the beta-(1-->6)-bonded glucobiose (gentiobiose)-based analogue 6 as potential fungicides. In the course of the work, the beta-(1-->6), beta-(1-->6)-linked analogue 8 of 6 and 6-O- and 4-O-beta-glucopyranosyl-deoxynojirimycins 7 and 9, respectively, were also produced.     

Gram-scale syntheses of the (1-->3)-linked and (1-->4)-linked hyaluronan disaccharides

The first gram-scale syntheses of two hyaluronan disaccharides are described. Construction of the (1-->4)-linked disaccharide 12 was achieved in 12% overall yield using 2,3-bis-dimethyl acetal protection in combination with chlorosilane-induced carbamate cleavage methodologies. The uronic acid functionality was installed using TEMPO oxidation with NaOCl as the hypochlorite source. The (1-->3)-linked disaccharide 18 was achieved in 7% overall yield utilizing acetonide protection in addition to the chlorosilane-induced carbamate cleavage methodology and the TEMPO oxidation.     

Syntheses of arabinogalactans consisting of beta-(1-->6)-linked D-galactopyranosyl backbone and alpha-(1-->3)-linked L-arabinofuranosyl side chains

Two arabinogalactosyl nonasaccharides, beta-D-Galp-(1-->6)-[alpha-L-Araf-(1-->3)]-beta-D-Galp-(1-->6)-beta-D-Galp-(1-->6)-beta-D-Galp-(1-->6)-[alpha-L-Araf-(1-->5)-alpha-L-Araf-(1-->3)]-beta-D-Galp-(1-->6)-beta-D-Galp and beta-D-Galp-(1-->6)-[alpha-L-Araf-(1-->5)-alpha-L-Araf-(1-->3)]-beta-D-Galp-(1-->6)-beta-D-Galp-(1-->6)-beta-D-Galp-(1-->6)-[alpha-L-Araf-(1-->3)]-beta-D-Galp-(1-->6)-beta-D-Galp, were synthesized as their 4-methoxyphenyl glycosides with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (1), 6-O-acetyl-2,3,4-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (14), 4-methoxyphenyl 3-O-allyl-2,4-di-O-benzoyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (2), 4-methoxyphenyl 2,3,4-tri-O-benzoyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (5), 2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl trichloroacetimidate (8), and 2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl-(1-->5)-2,3-di-O-benzoyl-alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl trichloroacetimidate (11), as the key synthons. The tetra- (10) and pentasaccharide donor (13), and the tetra- (20) and pentasaccharide acceptor (22) were synthesized based on these synthons through simple transformations. Coupling of 22 with 10, and coupling of 20 with 13 and subsequent deacylation gave nonasaccharides 24 and 26, respectively, consisting of beta-(1-->6)-linked glactopyranosyl backbone and alpha-(1-->3)-linked arabinofuranosyl side chains of different size.     

Concise syntheses of arabinogalactans with beta-(1-->6)-linked galactopyranose backbones and alpha-(1-->3)- and alpha-(1-->2)-linked arabinofuranose side chains

4-methoxyphenyl glycosides of 2,3'-bis-alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl branched beta-D-(1-->6)-linked galactopyranosyl tetraose (16), 3',2'-bis-alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl branched beta-D-(1-->6)-linked galactopyranosyl hexaose (27), and a twentyose (42) consisting of beta-(1-->6)-linked D-galactopyranosyl pentadecaoligosaccharide backbone with alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl side chains alternately attached at C-2 and C-3 of the middle galactose residue of each consecutive beta-(1-->6)-linked galactotriose unit of the backbone, were synthesized with isopropyl 3-O-allyl-2,4-di-O-benzoyl-1-thio-beta-D-galactopyranoside (6), 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (7), 2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl trichloroacetimidate (12), 6-O-acetyl-2,3,4-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (17), 4-methoxyphenyl 2,3,4-tri-O-benzoyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (19), and 2,6-di-O-acetyl-3,4-di-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (28) as the key synthons. Condensation of 6 with 7 gave the disaccharide donor 8, and subsequent condensation of 8 with 4-methoxyphenyl 2,3,4-tri-O-benzoyl-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->6)-2-O-acetyl-3,4-di-O-benzoyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (9) followed by selective deacetylation afforded the tetrasaccharide acceptor 11. Coupling of 11 with 12 gave the pentasaccharide 13, its deallylation followed by coupling with 12, and debenzoylation gave the hexasaccharide 16 with beta-(1-->6)-linked galactopyranose backbone and 2- and 3'-linked alpha-L-arabinofuranose side chains. The octasaccharide 27 was similarly synthesized, while the twentyoside 42 was synthesized with tetrasaccharides 33 or 24 as the donors and 23, 36, 38, and 40 as the acceptors by consecutive couplings followed by deacylation.     

An efficient and practical synthesis of beta-(1 --> 3)-linked xylooligosaccharides

A facile and practical method was developed for the synthesis of beta-(1 --> 3)-linked xylooligosaccharides. Dibezoylation of allyl alpha-D-xylopyranoside (1) afforded 2,4-dibenzoate 6 as the major product. Chloroacetylation of 6, followed by deallylation and trichloroacetimidation, gave a 1:3 alpha/beta imidate (10 and 11) mixture. Coupling of the imidate mixture with 6 gave a disaccharide 13, whose dechloroacetylation afforded the disaccharide acceptor 16. Condensation of perbenzoylated xylosyl alpha/beta imidate (7 and 8) mixture with 6 gave the disaccharide 12. Deallylation of 12, followed by trichloroacetimidation, furnished the disaccharide donor as a 1:1 alpha/beta mixture. Coupling of the disaccharide donor mixture with the disaccharide acceptor 16 yielded the tetrasaccharide 17. Reiteration of deallylation and trichloroacetimidation transformed 17 to the tetrasaccharide donor mixture. Condensation of the tetrasaccharide donor mixture with the acceptor 16 gave the hexasaccharide 21. Debenzoylation with saturated ammonia-methanol afforded beta-(1 --> 3)-linked allyl xylotetraoside and xylohexaoside.     

Sulfated beta-(1-->4)-galacto-oligosaccharides and their effect on angiogenesis

Sulfated beta-(1-->4)-galacto-oligosaccharides were prepared from an arabino-galacto-rhamno-galacturonan from Lupinus polyphyllus Lindl. by successive partial hydrolysis and SO3-pyridine sulfation in DMF. The resulting oligosaccharide polysulfates were analyzed by analytical GPC and the sulfate content was determined by ion chromatography. DP 5 and higher showed a pronounced antiangiogenic effect with scores of 0.9-1.2 for DP 7-9 using the CAM-assay. An interaction with the fibroblast growth factor FGF-2 was noticed for DP 4-12 depending on the degree of sulfation using the FGF-2-trypsin assay.     

Syntheses of beta-(1-->6)-branched beta-(1-->3)-linked d-galactans that exist in the rhizomes of Atractylodes lancea DC

Effective syntheses of galactose hepta-, octa-, nona-, and decasaccharides that exist in the rhizomes of Atractylodes lancea DC were achieved with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-alpha-d-galactopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (1), 4-methoxyphenyl 2,3,4-tri-O-benzoyl-beta-d-galactopyranoside (2), 6-O-acetyl-2,3,4-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-d-galactopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (5), 4-methoxyphenyl 6-O-acetyl-2,4-di-O-benzoyl-beta-d-galactopyranoside (22), and 4-methoxyphenyl 2,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-beta-d-galactopyranoside (26) as the key synthons. Coupling of 2 with 1, followed by oxidative cleavage of 1-OMP and subsequent trichloroacetimidate formation gave the beta-(1-->6)-linked disaccharide donor 4. Condensation of 2 with 5 and subsequent selective deacetylation by methanolysis produced the beta-(1-->6)-linked disaccharide acceptor 7. Reaction of 7 with 4, oxidative cleavage of 1-OMP, and trichloroacetimidate formation produced the tetrasaccharide donor 9. The penta- (15), the hexa- (17), and the heptasaccharide donor 19 were synthesized similarly. Meanwhile, treatment of 1 with 22 yielded beta-(1-->3)-linked disaccharide 23 and alpha-(1-->3)-linked disaccharide 25. Oxidative cleavage of 1-OMp of 23 followed by trichloroacetimidate formation produced the disaccharide donor 24. Coupling of 26 with 24, again, gave beta-linked 27 and alpha-linked 29. Selective 6-O-deacetylation of 27 afforded the trisaccharide acceptor 28. TMSOTf-promoted condensation 28 of with the tetra- (9), penta- (15), hexa-(17), and heptasaccharide donor 19, followed by deprotection, gave the target compounds.     

A (1-->6)-linked beta-mannopyrananan, pseudonigeran, and a (1-->4)-linked beta-xylan, isolated from the lichenised basidiomycete Dictyonema glabratum

Extraction of Dictyonema glabratum with hot 2% (w/v) aqueous KOH at 100 degrees C, followed by neutralisation and freeze-thawing, gave an insoluble glucan. The residue was further extracted by a similar process, but with hot 10% (w/v) aqueous KOH, furnishing a mixture of glucan, mannan and xylan. The mannan and xylan were obtained via precipitation of its copper complex with Fehling's solution, leaving the glucan in the supernatant. The insoluble complex was finally purified through gel permeation chromatography. Methylation analysis, one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance examination showed the polysaccharides to be a (1-->3)-linked alpha-glucan (pseudonigeran) and a (1-->4)-linked beta-xylan, both not previously encountered in lichens, and a newly discovered (1-->6)-linked beta-mannan.     

Effect of (1-->3)- and (1-->4)-linkages of fully sulfated polysaccharides on their anticoagulant activity

Chemically fully sulfated polysaccharides including xylan (-->4Xylbeta-(1-->4)Xylbeta1-->), amylose (-->4Glcalpha-(1-->4)Glcalpha1-->), cellulose (-->4Glcbeta-(1-->4)Glcbeta1-->), curdlan (-->3Glcbeta-(1-->3)Glcbeta1-->) and galactan (-->3Galbeta-(1-->3)Galbeta1-->), which have been isolated from Korean clam, were prepared, and their anticoagulant activity was investigated. The results strongly suggest that the activity might not be depending on anomeric configuration (alpha or beta) or monosaccharide species but on the glycosidic linkage, either (1-->3) or (1-->4). 1H NMR studies of these modified polysaccharides show that the neighboring sulfate groups at the C-2 and C-3 positions might have caused the conformational changes of each monosaccharide from 4C(1) to 1C(4). Furthermore, the effect of 6-sulfate residues on the anticoagulant activity was investigated using a specific desulfated reaction for the chemically fully sulfated polysaccharides. The 6-sulfate group is very important in determining anticoagulant activity of (1-->3)-linked polysaccharides, whereas the activity is not affected by presence or absence of the 6-sulfate group in (1-->4)-linked polysaccharides.     

Synthesis of divalent beta-(1-->6)-branched (1-->3)-glucohexaose and trivalent beta-(1-->6)-branched (1-->3)-glucotriose

Hexaose, beta-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-[beta-D-Glcp-(1-->6)]-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-[beta-D-Glcp-(1-->6)]-beta-D-Glcp, based dimers were synthesized by twofold glycosidation of the hexaosyl trichloroacetimidate with hexylene 1,6-diol, diethylene glycol and triethylene glycol, respectively. Meanwhile, a triose, beta-1D-Glcp-(1-->3)-[beta-D-Glcp-(1-->6)]-beta-D-Glcp, based trimer was obtained by glycosidation of the triosyl trichloroacetimidate with a glycerol-derived triol scaffold.     

An efficient and concise synthesis of a beta-(1-->6)-linked D-galactofuranosyl hexasaccharide

A beta-(1-->6)-linked D-galactofuranosyl hexasaccharide was synthesized efficiently in a block construction manner by the well-known Schmidt glycosylation method using 6-O-acetyl-2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-beta-D-galactofuranosyl trichloroacetimidate (1) and allyl 2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-beta-D-galactofuranoside (3) as the key synthons. Coupling of 3 with 1 gave beta-(1-->6)-linked disaccharide 4. Subsequent selective deacetylation of 4 afforded the disaccharide acceptor 5, while deallylation of 4 followed by trichloroacetimidate formation produced the disaccharide donor 6. Condensation of 5 with 6 gave the tetrasaccharide 7, and subsequent deacetylation afforded the tetrasaccharide acceptor 8. Finally, coupling of 8 with 6 followed by deacylation yielded the target beta-(1-->6)-linked galactofuranose hexasaccharide 10. All of the reactions in the synthesis were carried out smoothly and in high yield.     

Synthesis of beta-(1-->4)-oligo-D-mannuronic acid neoglycolipids

Mammalian Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play important roles in host immune defense. The activation of TLR and down-stream signaling pathways have great impact on human physiology. Chemically diverse microbial products as well as synthetic ligands serve as agonists for these receptors. Recently, synthetic TLR ligands are being exploited as useful therapeutic agents for a variety of diseases including infections, inflammatory diseases, and cancers. Alginate polymers and oligosaccharides are strong immune stimulants mediated by TLR2/4, but synthesis of alginate oligomers is rarely studied. Reported here are the design and chemical synthesis of two beta-(1-->4)-di- and beta-(1-->4)-tri-d-mannuronic acid neoglycolipids 1 and 2 as potential TLR ligands. By using 4,6-di-O-benzylidene-protected 1-thio mannoside 7 as a glycosyl donor, the diastereoselective beta-d-mannosylation protocol provides the beta-(1-->4)-d-mannobiose and beta-(1-->4)-d-mannotriose derivatives, which upon regioselective oxidation with TEMPO/BAIB oxidation system yield the corresponding beta-(1-->4)-d-mannuronic acid containing neoglycolipids 1 and 2.     

Highly efficient synthesis of alternate alpha- and beta-(1-->3)-linked glucose hepta- and octasaccharides

Two heptasaccharides alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-beta-D-Glcp-1-OMP and beta-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-beta-D-Glcp1-OMP, and two octasaccharides alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-beta-D-Glcp-1-OMP and beta-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-beta-D-Glcp1-OMP were synthesized in a stereospecific way by remote control.     

An effective synthesis of an arabinogalactan with a beta-(1-->6)-linked galactopyranose backbone and alpha-(1-->2) arabinofuranose side chains

An octasaccharide, beta-D-Galp-(1-->6)-[alpha-L-Araf-(1-->2)]-beta-D-Galp-(1-->6)-beta-D-Galp-(1-->6)-[alpha-L-Araf-(1-->5)-alpha-L-Araf-(1-->2)]-beta-D-Galp-(1-->6)-beta-D-Galp-1-->OMP was synthesized. 4-methoxyphenyl 2,3,4-tri-O-benzoyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (5), 2,6-di-O-acetyl-3,4-di-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (9), and 4-methoxyphenyl 2-O-acetyl-3,4-di-O-benzoyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (11), 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (12), and 2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl trichloroacetimidate (17) were used as the synthons. A concise route was used to gain the tetrasaccharide donor 19 by the use of 11, 12, 5, and 17. Meanwhile, treatment of 5 with 9 yielded beta-(1-->6)-linked disaccharide 20, and subsequent selective 6-O-deacetylation produced the disaccharide acceptor 21. Reaction of 21 with 19 gave 22, and subsequent selective 2-O-deacetylation afforded the hexasaccharide acceptor 23. Condensation of 23 with alpha-L-(1-->5)-linked arabinofuranose disaccharide 24, followed by deprotection, yielded the target octasaccharide.     

Solubilization and Separation of Uridine Diphospho-d-glucose: beta-(1 --> 4) Glucan and Uridine Diphospho-d-glucose:beta-(1 --> 3) Glucan Glucosyltransferases from Coleoptiles of Avena sativa

The particulate glucan synthetase preparation isolated from a homogenate of oat coleoptiles at 4 C lost 65% of its original activity after 1 day when the UDP-d-glucose substrate concentration was 5 × 10⁻⁷m to 1.0 × 10⁻⁶m. Storage of the particulate enzyme at −20 C or in liquid nitrogen did not prevent the enzyme from losing its activity. Incorporation of 0.5% hovine serum albumin into the medium stabilized the particulate enzyme at 0 C for 6 days and for at least 2 weeks in liquid nitrogen.     

MM3 potential energy surfaces of alpha-3-linked L-fucobiose and fucotriose and their sulfated counterparts

The adiabatic potential energy surfaces (PES) of alpha-L-Fuc-(1-->3)-alpha-L-Fuc and their counterparts disulfated at 2,2' and 4,4', and tetrasulfated at 2,2',4,4', which are representative of fucoidan structures, were obtained using the mm3 force field, and plotted as contour maps and as 2D graphs representing the energy versus the psi angle. The surfaces of the corresponding trisaccharides were also obtained and represented by a single 3D contour map for which the energy is plotted against the two psi glycosidic angles. For the nonsulfated disaccharide, similar populations of two minima occur. A substantial sulfate effect is observed. Whereas sulfation on both of the 2-positions shift the global minimum to positive psiH angles, sulfation on both of the 4-positions deepen the well at negative psiH values. A similar effect occurred in their galactose counterparts. Sulfation on the 2- and 4-positions carry the additive effect of both groups. The same trend was observed for both linkages present in the trisaccharides, with minor differences. For instance, the 4,4',4" trisulfated compound exhibits a trend by which the glycosidic linkage closer to the nonreducing end appears to be highly flexible, with similar energies in both conformers. Raising the dielectric constant on nonsulfated oligosaccharides was found to give a better agreement with experimental determinations.     

Synthesis of methyl glycosides of beta-(1----6)-linked D-galactobiose, galactotriose, and galactotetraose having a 3-deoxy-3-fluoro-beta-D-galactopyranoside end-residue

Methyl 2,4-di-O-acetyl-3-deoxy-3-fluoro-beta-D-galactopyranoside was synthesized by sequential tritylation, acetylation, and detritylation of methyl 3-deoxy-3-fluoro-beta-D-galactopyranoside, and used as the initial nucleophile in the synthesis of methyl beta-glycosides of (1----6)-beta-D-galacto-biose, -triose (20), and -tetraose (22) having a 3-deoxy-3-fluoro-beta-D-galactopyranoside end-residue. The extension of the oligosaccharide chains, to form the internal units in 20 and 22, was achieved by use of 2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-6-O-bromoacetyl-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl bromide as a glycosyl donor, and mercuric cyanide or silver triflate as the promotor. While fewer by-products were formed in the reactions involving mercuric cyanide, the reactions catalyzed by silver triflate were stereospecific and yielded only the desired beta (trans) products.     

An enzymatically produced novel cyclomaltopentaose cyclized from amylose by an alpha-(1-->6)-linkage, cyclo-{-->6)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->4)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->4)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->4)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->4)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->}

A bacterial strain AM7, isolated from soil and identified as Bacillus circulans, produced two kinds of novel cyclic oligosaccharides. The cyclic oligosaccharides were produced from amylose using a culture supernatant of the strain as the enzyme preparation. The major product was a cyclomaltopentaose cyclized by an alpha-(1-->6)-linkage, cyclo-{-->6)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->4)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->4)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->4)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->4)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->}. The other minor product was cyclomaltohexaose cyclized by an alpha-(1-->6)-linkage, cyclo-{-->6)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->4)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->4)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->4)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->4)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->4)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->}. We propose the names isocyclomaltopentaose (ICG5) and isocyclomaltohexaose (ICG6) for these novel cyclic maltooligosaccharides having one alpha-(1-->6)-linkage. ICG5 was digested by alpha-amylase derived from Aspergillus oryzae, cyclomaltodextrin glucanotransferase (CGTase) from Bacillus stearothermophilus, and maltogenic alpha-amylase. On the other hand, ICG6 was digested by CGTase from B. stearothermophilus and B. circulans, and maltogenic alpha-amylase. This is the first report of enzymatically produced cyclomaltopentaose and cyclomaltohexaose, which have an alpha-(1-->6)-linkage in their molecules.     

Structural characterization of beta-D-(1 --> 3, 1 --> 6)-linked glucans using NMR spectroscopy

Nondestructive structural analysis of a series of beta-D-(1 --> 3, 1 --> 6)-linked glucans (laminaran, curdlan, yeast glucan, scleroglucan, etc.) was performed using two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. The relative ratios of H-1 at different AGUs provided the information about DPn and DB. The alpha-, and beta-anomeric protons on reducing terminals were assigned at 5.02 to approximately 5.03 ppm (J 3.6 to approximately 3.7 Hz), and 4.42 to approximately 4.43 ppm (J 7.6 to approximately 7.9 Hz), respectively, whereas the H-1 protons of internal AGUs and beta-(1 --> 6)-branched AGUs appeared at 4.56 to approximately 4.59 ppm (J 7.6 to approximately 7.8 Hz), and 4.26 to approximately 4.28 ppm (J 7.6 to approximately 10.6 Hz), respectively, in a mixed solvent of 6:1 Me2SO-d6-D2O at 80 degrees C. In the solvent, the OH peaks were eliminated from the spectra allowing the H-1 protons to appear clearly. In addition, the nonreducing terminal H-1 and H-1 at the AGU next to reducing terminal could be assigned at 4.45 to approximately 4.46 ppm (J 7.8 to approximately 7.9 Hz), and 4.51 to approximately 4.53 ppm (J 7.8 Hz), respectively. The DPn of the laminaran was 33 (polydispersity 1.12) and the DB was 0.07. The number of glucosyl units in the side chain of laminaran is more than one. The DPn and DB of the water-insoluble yeast glucan were 228 and 0.003, respectively. However the DPn of water soluble yeast glucan phosphate and curdlan was changed upon the number of freeze-drying processes and the content of water in the mixed solvent, respectively. And the DB of those were calculated as 0.02 and 0, respectively. The DB of scleroglucan was precisely calculated as 0.33, compared with the previously reported data. The H-1s at different AGUs of the various beta-D-(1 --> 3, 1 --> 6)-linked glucans having different DB can be exactly assigned by their chemical shifts in the mixed solvent system. This NMR analysis can be effectively used to determine the DP and DB of polysaccharides in a simple and non-destructive manner.     

Structural studies of the mix-linked beta-(1-->3)/beta-(1-->4)-D-xylans from the cell wall of Palmaria palmata (Rhodophyta)

The structure and organization of Palmaria palmata cell walls, which are largely involved in biological and physiological functions as well as in biotechnological and food applications of this red marine alga, are principally assumed by the interactions and linkages of major mix-linked beta-(1-->3)/beta-(1-->4)-D-xylans. These partly acidic polysaccharides are essentially held in the cell wall by H-bonds. The location of the acid groups and the distribution of 1-->3-linkage were studied following the endo-beta-(1,4)-xylanase hydrolysis of sequentially extracted xylans, and fine analysis of the oligosaccharides produced by anion exchange chromatography, high performance anion exchange chromatography (HPAEC)-PAD, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electrospray ion trap mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) techniques. The results indicate that the acidity of the xylans was related to potential linkages to sulfated and/or phosphorylated xylogalactoprotein complexes. H-bonding of the mix-linked xylans involved a regular 1,3-linkages distribution idealized in a pentameric repeating structure (one 1,3-linkage and four 1,4-linkages). Furthermore, MS analysis of the xylo-oligosaccharides revealed a substitution of the mix-linked xylans by a non-osidic component of 175 g mol(-1). The presence of this substituent and of the proposed covalent linkage between the mix-linked xylans and charged glycoproteins are discussed with regard to the polysaccharides interactions in P. palmata cell walls.