Molecular Weight Polysaccharide Research Articles

Elemental biochemical analysis of the polysaccharides in the extracellular matrix of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

In yeast multicellular aggregates, such as biofilms and colonies, cells are supported by a yeast extracellular matrix (yECM) of glycosidic nature, the composition of which is mostly unknown. Saccharomyces cerevisiae ECM was produced, extracted and partitioned. An analytical-grade pure glycoside fraction was obtained, fractionated by anionic exchange liquid chromatography and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Two different molecular weight polysaccharides were found, composed of glucose, mannose and small relative amounts of galactose. One of the polysaccharides had a low molecular weight, compatible with the association with glycoproteins abundantly occurring in yECM. In addition, these polysaccharide species were separated by diaminopropane agarose gel electrophoresis and induced metachromatic shift, suggesting chemical substitution, which was corroborated by anticoagulation activity. This was shown to be associated with the double deletion of the yeast homologues of the mammalian Hedgehog modulators Hhatl and Hhat, respectively yeast Gup1 and Gup2. These results pioneer the study of the molecular biology of the ECM supporting S. cerevisiae multicellular aggregates such as biofilms.

Evaluation of alkaline deconstruction processes for Brazilian new generation of eucalypt clones

Wood utilization for pulp and paper and biorefinery applications requires some kind of mechanical and/or physical–chemical pretreatment. Among the chemical treatments the alkaline ones are the most used worldwide, although acid and solvent treatments have also being used. This paper deals with eucalypt wood deconstruction with alkaline processes including soda-AQ, soda-AQ-O2, soda-O2, and kraft. The kraft process is largely used by the pulp industry and is evaluated here only to serve as a reference. The behavior of the four eucalypt clones selected in chapter 2 were investigated when submitted to the aforementioned processes regarding their screened yield, chemical demands and pulp quality at different kappa number levels (15, 35, 50, and 70). The two most promising processes (kraft and soda-AQ) were chosen for producing pulps (kappa 15 and 20) which were studied in depth (content of carbohydrates, uronic acid, hexenuronic acid, polysaccharide molecular weight, residual lignin structure, etc.), as well as their respective black liquors (heating value, solid content, elemental analysis, and lignin structure). The main findings of this work were: (1) the wood of the four different hybrid eucalypt clones behave similarly in the various alkaline deconstruction treatments; (2) the soda-AQ and Kraft were considered the most suitable processes for producing pulp on the basis of yield, chemical demands and pulp fiber integrity; (3) the soda-AQ process can potentially replace the kraft for a high degree of wood delignification (kappa number 15); (4) the alkaline processes using oxygen (soda-AQ-O2 and soda-O2) are more suitable for wood deconstruction aimed at biofuels; and (5) the soda-AQ process resulted black liquor of more suitable burning characteristics than the kraft.

Role of molecular properties of ulvans on their ability to elaborate antiadhesive surfaces.

Antiadhesive properties of polysaccharides (such ulvans) once immobilized on a surface are described in the literature but the parameters governing their antifouling properties are not yet well identified. In the present study, the relationship between molecular parameters of ulvans and the inhibition of bacterial adhesion was investigated. To this aim, various ulvans were grafted on silicon wafers under two different experimental immobilization conditions. Results showed that the experimental immobilization conditions and the polysaccharides molecular weight led to specific layer conformations which exhibited a key role in the surface antiadhesive properties.

The Content of Physiologically Active Substances in Several Medicinal Mushrooms with Various Doses of γ-Irradiation

Dry samples of fruit bodies of Cordyceps militaris and Agariucs blazei, mycelia of Antrodia camphorata, and hot water extracts of Ganoderma tsugae were ground and irradiated with γ-rays at doses of 0, 2.5, 5, and 10 kGy. After γ-irradiation, the content of γ-aminobutyric acid, adenosine, cordycepin, and triterpenoids in medicinal mushrooms did not significantly change. Gamma-irradiation only affects A. camphorata mycelia polysaccharide content, and an increase in irradiation dose (0-10 kGy) significantly reduces its content (111.85-101.88 mg/g). The content of high molecular weight (2.7×105 Da) polysaccharide in G. tsugae by γ-irradiation with increasing doses gradually increased. Gamma-irradiation could significantly affect the content of vitamin D2 and ergosterol. However, ergosterol content in non-irradiated C. militaris, A. blazei, A. camphorata, and G. tsugae was 2.34, 1.31, 2.33, and 1.15 mg/g, and of that in 10 kGy γ-irradiated mushrooms was 2.75, 1.88, 2.19, and 0.94 mg/g, respectively. Summarily, γ-irradiation does change some medicinal mushrooms by the content of physiologically active substances. When using γ-irradiation sterilization to maintain the physiological activity of mushroom products, one should consider its impact on the physiologically active substances.

Antioxidant properties of different molecular weight polysaccharides from Athyrium multidentatum (Doll.) Ching

Different molecular weight polysaccharides were prepared by degradation of polysaccharides extracted from Athyrium multidentatum (Doll.) Ching rhizome (CPA) with hydrogen peroxide and ascorbic acid. Four low molecular polysaccharides derivatives (CPA-1, CPA-2, CPA-3 and CPA-4) were successfully obtained and had their antioxidant activities investigated employing various established in vitro systems. All CPA derivatives showed pronounced antioxidant activity, and had stronger antioxidant ability than CPA in certain tests. CPA-1 exhibited the strongest scavenging ability on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical among all samples, and the IC50 value was 25μg/mL. CPA-2 possessed the highest scavenging ability against superoxide radical at 200μg/mL. The scavenging activity of CPA-4 on hydroxyl radical was higher than CPA from 120 to 200μg/mL. The mechanism on influence the antioxidant activity of CPA and its degraded derivatives was indicated.

Process development and immunogenicity studies on a serogroup ‘X’ Meningococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine

Meningococcal group X (MenX) is responsible for recent outbreaks of meningitis reported in sub-Saharan region of Africa. Although protective vaccines are available for meningitis, they are not effective against MenX. An efficacious, monovalent conjugate vaccine was designed against MenX and a fed-batch fermentation process was developed. The MenX polysaccharide (PS) was purified and yield estimated to be 15-fold higher than the reported elsewhere. Structure of MenX polysaccharide was confirmed by 1H, 13C NMR spectroscopy analysis. Molecular weight of PS was found to be 310 kDa using HPLC-SEC coupled to refractive index (RI) detector. The MenX–Tetanus toxoid (TT) monovalent conjugate proved to be highly immunogenic in mice, and the bactericidal titers of MenX–TT conjugate were 10-fold higher than native PS. Increasing the dose of MenX–TT conjugate from 0.5 μg to 1.0 μg induced an 8-fold higher antibody titer as well as serum bactericidal titer. The current work suggests that the MenX–TT conjugate is a candidate vaccine against meningitis caused by Meningococcal group X strains.

Macromolecular production of phytoplankton in the northern Bering Sea, 2007

Photosynthetic carbon allocations into different macromolecular classes provide important clues regarding physiological conditions of phytoplankton and the nutritional status of potential grazers. The productivity experiments for photosynthetic carbon allocations were conducted at three light depths (100, 30, and 1 %) for nine different stations in the northern Bering Sea as an important gateway into the western Arctic Ocean, using the 13C isotope tracer technique to determine the major controlling factors and physiological conditions of phytoplankton. The photosynthetic carbon allocations into different macromolecular classes [Low molecular weight metabolites (LMWM), lipids, proteins, and polysaccharides] of primary producers were determined based on the productivity experiments. LMWM and polysaccharides had similar vertical patterns whereas lipids and proteins had reverse vertical patterns at all the stations, which is consistent with other results under different light depths. The overall average allocations were 37.9 (SD = ± 18.8 %), 26.6 (SD = ± 17.4 %), 26.5 (SD = ± 20.7 %), and 9.1 % (SD = ± 7.8 %), for LMWM, lipids, proteins, and polysaccharides, respectively. Based on a general pattern of macromolecular production in the northern Bering Sea, phytoplankton was in a physiologically transitional phase from an unlimited status to a nitrogen-deficient condition during our cruise period, 2007. However, more in situ field measurements for macromolecular production under a variety of environmental conditions will improve the understanding of the physiological responses of phytoplankton to the ongoing environmental changes in the Arctic Ocean.

Polysaccharides from Panax japonicus C.A. Meyer and their antioxidant activities

Polysaccharides named as PP1, PP2, PP3, PP4 and PP5 were extracted and isolated from the rhizomes of Panax japonicus C.A. Meyer, a well-known Chinese traditional medicine, by controlling the final concentration of solution to precipitate the polysaccharides. The molecular weight of polysaccharides was determined by HGPLC chromatography system. The monosaccharide composition was analyzed by Gas chromatography on an Agilent 6890A instrument using a DB-35MS column and flame-ionization detector. All of the polysaccharides were heteropolysaccharides and consisted of arabinose, glucose and galactose. The content of arabinose increased with the increasing of ethanol concentration and PP5 had the most arabinose content in these samples. IR spectra indicated obvious characteristic peaks of polysaccharide, the presence of uronic acids. Their antioxidant activities were evaluated by various established in vitro systems, including scavenging activity of superoxide anion, hydroxyl radical, ABTS and DPPH radicals. Both samples showed inhibitory effects on superoxide, hydroxyl, ABTS and DPPH radical. And PP5 shows more clearly and relatively stronger capacity than other polysaccharides on the protective effect of DNA damage.

Immune-stimulated antitumor effect of different molecular weight polysaccharides from Monascus purpureus on human leukemic U937 cells

Since polysaccharides from many fungi have been shown to exhibit immunomodulating activity, the present study was aimed at isolating polysaccharides from Monascus purpureus and examining their effects on human leukemic U937 cells with or without immunomodulating stimulation by blood mononuclear cells (MNCs). The 50–100 kDa polysaccharide fraction (MP3) obtained from ultrafiltration showed the highest antitumor activity by 42.2 ± 2.1% growth inhibition. This polysaccharide fraction was further resolved by anion exchanger resin into three peaks. Among them, the second peak (MP3B) exerted the most potent inhibitory action, and even at 1 µg/mL, it was able to activate MNCs to produce a conditioned medium that inhibited the growth of U937 by 73.43 ± 1.4%. In contrast, when U937 cells were directly cultured in the presence of MP3B, the cell growth was not retarded even at the concentrations of MP3B as high as 100 µg/mL.

In intro antioxidant activities of different sulfated polysaccharides from chlorophytan seaweeds Ulva fasciata

Four different molecular weight sulfated polysaccharides (UFP1, UFP2, UFP3 and UFP4) were extracted and separated from Ulva fasciata by hot water extraction and ultrafiltration. Their chemical and physical characteristics were determined and antioxidant activities were investigated on the basis of superoxide radical assay, hydroxyl radical assay, ABTS radical assay, and reducing power assay. The results showed that four polysaccharides exhibited antioxidant properties, and UFP2 and UFP3, which have lower content of sulfate showed higher antioxidant activities than UFP1 and UFP4, which have higher content of sulfate. Besides, the content of protein, uronic acid and molecular weights of polysaccharides also influence their antioxidant activities. The antioxidant activities of UFP were not a function of a single factor but a combination of several factors.

Quality evaluation of polysaccharide of ginseng injections from different manufacturers

To evaluate injections of ginseng polysaccharide from 4 different manufacturers of 5 batches on the market. Based on quality analysis, normal examinations were investigated, and monosaccharide composition and the molecular weight of polysaccharide in ginseng injections were performed. Products from 4 different manufacturers were in line with the requirements of quality standard and Chinese Pharmacopeia (2010 edition). But there were great differences in molecular weight and monosaccharide composition. It is suggested to enhance the quality standard to ensure the medication safety use.

Hyaluronic Acid and Derivatives for Tissue Engineering.

Among the protein-based hydrogel-forming polymers, various salts of hyaluronic acid (HA), aka hyaluronan or sodium hyaluronate, are used to prepare tissue-engineering. HA is a natural occurring glycosaminoglycan, a polysaccharide of high molecular weight which displays interesting viscoelastic properties. Among other organisms, HA is omnipresent in the human body, occurring in almost all biological fluids and tissues, although the highest amounts of HA are found in the extracellular matrix of soft connective tissues. HA is synthesized in a unique manner by a family of hyaluronan synthases and degraded by hyaluronidases and, exerts pleiotropic biological functions such as tissue repair and tissue regeneration. The excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability of HAderived hydrogels make them ideal materials for tissue engineering. Nevertheless, because of their hydrophilic nature, further modification with adhesion-mediating peptides is required to allow sufficient cell attachment. Hence, several methods of chemical cross-linking using different linkers have been investigated to improve the mechanical properties of those materials for long-term applications in the biomedical field. This manuscript provide an overview of HA and derivatives used as biomaterial scaffold for theranostic medicine.

Effect of carbohydrate-based media on the biomass, polysaccharides molecular weight distribution and sugar composition from Pycnoporus sanguineus

The edible mushroom, Pycnoporus sanguineus, is used to formulate nutraceuticals and functional foods in Asia. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of sucrose, glucose, and potato dextrose broth (PDB) as carbon sources on mycelial growth and changes of polysaccharides in sugar composition and molecular weight distribution. The maximum mycelial growth of 10.1 g L−1 was obtained at 40 g L−1 PDB. Polysaccharides were characterized by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) and high-performance anion-exchange chromatography (HPAEC). Sucrose or glucose as the substrate enhanced the biosynthesis of very-low-molecular-weight (<1 kDa) polysaccharides. Fucose, galactose, glucose, mannose, and fructose were the dominant sugars in the polysaccharides. Feeding with glucose resulted in a direct dosage effect in the glucose component of the polysaccharides. Also, a positive correlation was observed for the contents of glucose and fructose with increased feeding of sucrose, and that of a negative correlation existed for the contents of galactose. These findings establish a basis for further investigations of the extent to which formation of polysaccharides differed in their structures depending on the kind of carbon source used.

Stimulation of Minerals by Carbon Nanotube Grafted Glucosamine in Mouse Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Bone Tissue Engineering

In the recent years, Single Walled Carbon Nanotube (SWCNT) is known to play a vital role in preparation of artificial bone materials. For this, we have prepared certain complexes of SWCNT grafted with different molecular weight polysaccharides, named as SWCNT-Glucosamine, SWCNT-Chitooligosaccharide (< 1 KDa), SWCNT-Chitooligosaccharide (1-3 KDa), SWCNT-Chitosan (310 KDa) and SWCNT-Chitosan (510 KDa) and subjected to bone tissue engineering application in vitro with mesenchymal stem cells. The physicochemical characteristic results revealed the existence of covalent bond between SWCNT and their respective polysaccharides. SWCNT-Glucosamine has been used for the cell culture experiment due to its highly soluble nature. As compared to glucosamine alone, no cytotoxic effect, higher alkaline phosphatase activity and enhanced mineralization have been observed in SWCNT-glucosamine. We propose that SWCNT-Polysaccharide derivatives are promising biomaterials for bone tissue engineering.

Ultrasonic-assisted extraction of polysaccharides from Hohenbuehelia serotina by response surface methodology

An ultrasonic-assisted procedure for the extraction of polysaccharides from the fruiting body of Hohenbuehelia serotina was investigated using response surface methodology. The effects of four factors on the yield of polysaccharides were studied. The optimized conditions were extraction temperature 94°C, extraction time 3.0h, ratio of water to raw material 110:1 and ultrasonic power 480W. Under these conditions, the experimental yield of polysaccharides was 17.45±0.18%, which was well matched with the predictive yield of 17.54%. The molecular weight of polysaccharide was ranged from 1.19×103 to 1.55×104Da. The polysaccharides were composed of ribose, arabinose, mannose, glucose and galactose in a ratio of 0.65:0.69:9.35:14.24:5.47. Then, the structural features of untreated materials, hot water extraction residue and ultrasonic-assisted extraction residue were compared by SEM. Results indicated that ultrasonic-assisted extraction technology could be an effective and advisable technique.

Antioxidant activities of five polysaccharides from Inonotus obliquus

Five polysaccharides (IOP1b, IOP2a, IOP2c, IOP3a and IOP4) were isolated and purified from Inonotus obliquus by DEAE-Sepharose fast flow and SepharoseCL-6B column chromatography. Their chemical and physical characteristics were determined and antioxidant activities were investigated on the basis of hydroxyl radical assay, superoxide radical assay and ferric-reducing antioxidant power assay. The results showed that five polysaccharides exhibited antioxidant activities, and the higher content of uronic acid and proteinous substances, the stronger antioxidant activities of polysaccharides. Besides, molecular weights of polysaccharides also influence their antioxidant activities. IOP3a and IOP4 showed higher antioxidant properties than IOP1b, IOP2a and IOP2c.

Studies on separation, purification and structure characteristics of a polysaccharide LTC-Ⅱfrom Pyrola corbieri

To characterize the structure of polysaccharide LTC-II obtained from Pyrola corbieri. The polysaccharide was extracted from P. corbieri by hot water and ethanol precipitation. Crude polysaccharide was purified by DEAE-Cellulose chromatography and Sephacryl S-300 HR column chromatography. The purity and molecular weight of polysaccharide was determined by gel permeation chromatography. UV, IR, optical rotation, complete acid hydrolysis, periodate oxydation, Smith degradation, partial acid hydrolysis and methylation analysis were applied to determine the structural features. A homogeneous fraction LTC-II was obtained and its relative molecular mass was 22 000 Da. It consisted of arabinose, mannose, glucose, galactose in the molar ratio of 35. 2: 1.0: 13. 4: 4. 2. LTC-II had a backbone consisting glucose, mannose, galactose and mainly contained (1 --> 6)-linkaged glucose. The side chain possessed arabinose, glucose, galactose and mainly contained (1 --> 5)-linkaged arabinose. The terminal sugar were mainly glucose and galactose. Studies on the preliminary characterization of polysaccharide LTC-II from P. corbieri for the first time.

Effect of dynamic high-pressure treatment on the interfacial and foaming properties of soy protein isolate–hydroxypropylmethylcelluloses systems

The objective of the work was to study the effect of dynamic high-pressure homogenization (HPH) on the interfacial and foaming properties of soy protein isolate (SP) and surface-active polysaccharides (E4M and E15) with different molecular weight. SP was dispersed with water (2% w/v) together with the polysaccharides (0.3% w/v) and subjected to high-pressure from 0 to 300 MPa, in 100 MPa intervals. After treatment, foam overrun by whipping method, viscosity, particle size distribution and surface pressure at 48 s of drop formation time, of systems were measured. The effect of HPH of these systems on foam overrun was not directly relation with the effect on the surface pressure at short adsorption time. The viscosity decrease may be explained some of the foaming results together with interfacial performance at longer adsorption time than 48 s which depend on the system and level of pressure applied. According to the polysaccharide used in this work, interactions between SP and polysaccharides apparently favour the foam overrun on untreated mixed systems; this effect was promoted using HPH particularly in the case of E15 at 300 MPa. The effect of SP–E4M was less pronounced from the one observed for E15. Thus, the molecular weight of polysaccharides is a very important factor of interaction with soy protein isolate under these conditions of high-pressure homogenization.

Sulfated modification and immunomodulatory activity of water-soluble polysaccharides derived from fresh Chinese persimmon fruit

In this study, three kinds of chemically sulfated polysaccharides (PFP-S) were derived from a water-soluble polysaccharide of persimmon fruit with chlorosulfonic acid–pyridine method. Relationship between the degree of substitution and immunomodulatory activity of PFP-S was examined with the splenocytes experiment. The results showed that the splenocytes-activating activity was significantly enhanced by PFP-S in all the groups compared with control group ( P < 0.01). PFP-SII exhibited the most potent splenocytes-activating activity by increased cytokine production and NO release. It also suggested that the sulfate groups and molecular weight of polysaccharides are key factors to regulate the immunomodulatory activities.

Kinetics of Phase Separation of Oat β-Glucan/Whey Protein Isolate Binary Mixtures

The kinetics of phase separation and microstructure of oat β-glucan/whey protein binary mixtures varying in concentration (4–16% w/v protein, 0.3–1.2% w/v β-glucan) and β-glucan molecular weight (1.3 × 106, 640 × 103, 180 × 103, and 120 × 103 g/mol) was investigated by turbidimetry and fluorescent microscopy. The phase separation of the mixed systems was followed at pH 7.0 and at room temperature under quiescent conditions. Application of first principles revealed that phase separation of the systems follows first-order kinetics. Acceleration of the phase-separation process was observed with increase of β-glucan concentration for the three lowest-MW samples but the highest molecular weight (1.3 × 106 g/mol) exhibited the opposite trend. Changes in the polysaccharide molecular weight resulted in considerable differences in β-glucan aggregate morphology in the mixed systems. The change in the continuity of the mixed system from polysaccharide-, to bi-, to protein-continuous was confirmed for a wide range of mixed systems differing in biopolymer concentration, and β-glucan molecular weight.