Open AccessThe solubilization and biological activities of Aspergillus β‐(1→3)‐ d ‐glucan
Author(s) -
Ishibashi Kenichi,
Miura Noriko N.,
Adachi Yoshiyuki,
Tamura Hiroshi,
Tanaka Shigenori,
Ohno Naohito
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1016/j.femsim.2004.04.004
Subject(s) - glucan , candida albicans , aspergillus , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , mycelium , polysaccharide , biochemistry , cell wall , solubilization , botany
We have recently demonstrated that the cell wall β‐glucan of Candida albicans could be solubilized by sodium hypochlorite, followed by dimethylsulfoxide‐extraction (NaClO‐DMSO method). In this study, applying this method to Aspergillus spp., we prepared mycelial cell wall β‐glucan and examined its physical properties and immunotoxicological activity. The acetone‐dried mycelia of Aspergillus spp. were oxidized by the NaClO‐DMSO method. An analysis of 13 C NMR spectra revealed the preparations to be composed of α‐(1→3) and β‐(1→3)‐ d ‐glucan. Also, the proportion of α‐(1→3) and β‐(1→3)‐ d ‐glucan varied. Futhermore, a solubilized Aspergillus β‐glucan (ASBG) was prepared from OX‐Asp by urea‐autocalve treatment. ASBG showed limulus activity similar to Candida solubilized β‐glucan (CSBG), and there was little difference in the activity of ASBG between various Aspergillus spp. ASBG affected the production of IL‐8 by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). ASBG should be useful for analyzing the clinical role of β‐glucan.