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AN EXOCELLULAR POLYSACCHARIDE FROM THE DIATOM GOMPHONEMA OLIVACEUM 1, 2
Author(s) -
Huntsman Susan A.,
Sloneker J. H.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
journal of phycology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.85
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1529-8817
pISSN - 0022-3646
DOI - 10.1111/j.1529-8817.1971.tb01512.x
Subject(s) - polysaccharide , periodate , xylose , uronic acid , yield (engineering) , galactose , periodic acid , formic acid , biology , arabinose , fucose , sugar , monosaccharide , residue (chemistry) , biochemistry , fermentation , materials science , metallurgy
SUMMARY An acidic polysaccharide produced by Gomphonema olivaceum was extracted with hot water after conversion to its potassium form. Recovered in 2–3% yield, the β‐linked polysaccharide was composed primarily of d ‐galactose, d ‐xylose, and an alkalistable sulfate ester in the ratio of 1:1:1.2. Several other minor components including a uronic acid were observed but not further identified. Periodate oxidation was complete in 40 hr at 4 C with the consumption of 0.88 mole of oxidant and production of 0.26 mole of acid per sugar residue. Half of the d ‐galactose in the polysaccharide was not oxidized by periodate: the remainder was cleaved between C 2 and C 3 . Of the d ‐oxylose residues, 35% were not oxidized; 15% were cleaved beetween C 2 and C 3 ; and 50%, presumbably a nonreducing side‐chain moiety, afforded formic acid. From these data two possible structures have been proposed.