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.