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

Abstract

Konno, H., Yamasalu, Y. and Katoh, K. 1987. Fractionation and partial characterization of pectic polysaccharides in cell walls from liverwort (Marchantia polymorpha) cell cultures.—J exp. Bot. 38: 711–722. Pectic polysaccharides were extracted from the starch-free cell wall preparation of cell suspension cultures of Marchantia polymorpha. The polysaccharides were fractionated by DEAE-Sephadex A-50 ion-exchange chromatography yielding the five fractions, and the degree of polymerization and glycosyl composition determined for each fraction. The neutral rich and acidic pectic polymers were depolymerized by purified endoglucanase (l,4-β-D-glucan 4-glucanohydrolase, E.C. 3.2.1.4.) and endopolygalacturonase (poly-l,4-α-Dgalacturonide glycanohydrolase, E.C. 3.2.1.15), respectively. The degraded pectic fractions were fractionated by gel filtration chromatography on Bio-Gel A-5m and Bio-Gel P-2, and glycosyl composition determined for each fraction. The results indicate that pectic polysaccharides contain glucose-rich polymer, rhamnogalacturonan and homogalacturonan in a ratio of 1:4:0–6. In addition, pectic polysaccharides were released as five pectic fragments from the cell walls by purified endopectate lyase (poly-l,4-α-D-galacturonide lyase, E.C. 4.2.2.2). Based on the analysis of glycosyl composition of each fragment, the pectic polysaccharides of Marchantia cell walls are characterized