Abstract

A sulfated galactan composed of nearly equimolar amounts of d-galactose, 3,6-anhydro-d-galactose, and sulfate was isolated from the red alga Turnerella mertensiana collected in the Sea of Japan. The structures of native polysaccharide and its alkaline modification products were studied by NMR spectroscopy. The polysaccharide molecules were shown to contain a linear carbohydrate chain consisting of alternating 3-linked β-d-galactopyranose 4-sulfate and 4-linked 3,6-anhydro-α-d-galactopyranose residues (known as к-carrageenan), which is typical of carrageenans, but the regularity of polymer structure is masked by the presence of some 3,6-anhydro-α-d-galactose 2-sulfate (ι-carrageenan units) and α-D-galactose 6-sulfate (µ-carrageenan units) instead of 3,6-anhydro-α-d-galactose. Upon addition of potassium chloride (up to 4%) to a solution of the native polysaccharide, about half of the substance transforms into gel. The gel-forming fraction is к-ι-µ-hybrid carrageenan with the ∼65 : 15 : 20 ratio of к-, ι-, and µ-units. The non-gelling fraction contains the к-, ι-, and µ-units at the ratio of ∼46 : 12 : 42. The gel-forming carrageenan product free of µ-units can be otained in ∼30% yield (based on the dry biomass) by alkaline treatment of the alga prior to extraction of the polysaccharide.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.