Structural studies of a sulfated l-galactan from Styela plicata (Tunicate): analysis of the Smith-degraded polysaccharide.
✍ Scribed by Rodolpho M. Albano; Mauro S.G. Pavão; Paulo A.S. Mourão; Barbara Mulloy
- Publisher
- Elsevier Science
- Year
- 1990
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 835 KB
- Volume
- 208
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0008-6215
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✦ Synopsis
The tunic of the ascidian Styela plicata is rich in a high molecular weight sulfated-L-galactan called the F-1 fraction. This polysaccharide is of complex structure and is highly branched. In this study we undertook detailed structural analysis of the F-1 fraction that was submitted to the Smith degradation procedure which, for this polysaccharide, results mainly in the elimination of the branches. By methylation, and one- and two-dimensional n.m.r. analysis of the Smith-degraded and desulfated Smith-degraded F-1 fraction, we determined the main structure of this polymer. It is composed of a core of alpha-L-galactopyranose units, sulfated at C-3 and glycosidically linked through position 1----4. The nonsulfated, nonreducing end units are branched at C-2 of the sulfated L-galactoses.