Fractionation and Partial Characterization of Pectic Polysaccharides in Cell Walls from Liverwort (Marchantia polymorph) Cell Cultures

Konno, H., Yamasalu, Y. and Katoh, K. 1987. Fractionation andpartial characterization of pectic polysaccharides in cell wallsfrom liverwort (Marchantia polymorpha) cell cultures.—Jexp. Bot. 38: 711–722. Pectic polysaccharides were extracted from the starch-free cellwall preparation of cell suspension cultures of Marchantia polymorpha.The polysaccharides were fractionated by DEAE-Sephadex A-50ion-exchange chromatography yielding the five fractions, andthe degree of polymerization and glycosyl composition determinedfor each fraction. The neutral rich and acidic pectic polymerswere depolymerized by purified endoglucanase (l,4-ß-D-glucan4-glucanohydrolase, E.C. 3.2.1.4[EC].) and endopolygalacturonase(poly-l,4--Dgalacturonide glycanohydrolase, E.C. 3.2.1.15[EC]),respectively. The degraded pectic fractions were fractionatedby gel filtration chromatography on Bio-Gel A-5m and Bio-GelP-2, and glycosyl composition determined for each fraction.The results indicate that pectic polysaccharides contain glucose-richpolymer, rhamnogalacturonan and homogalacturonan in a ratioof 1:4:0–6. In addition, pectic polysaccharides were releasedas five pectic fragments from the cell walls by purified endopectatelyase (poly-l,4--D-galacturonide lyase, E.C. 4.2.2.2[EC]). Basedon the analysis of glycosyl composition of each fragment, thepectic polysaccharides of Marchantia cell walls are characterized Key words: Cell suspension culture, cell wall, liverwort, Marchantia polymorpha, pectic polysaccharides