Glucan isolation

Significant protection of mice by several polysaccharides other than glucan isolated from S. cerevisiae has been described (209). A 2.16-fold protection in the LD q q is observed for one modifier, MNZ, when given 15 min prior to irradiation. Glucan protects 2.25-fold in this same protocol. Many of these polysaccharides may act through activation of the complement system, rather than directiy on ceHs. 

Saito, ., M. Nishijima, N. Ohno, T. Yadomae, and T. Miyazaki. 1992. Structure and antitumour activity of the less-branched derivatives of an alkali-soluble glucan isolated from Omphalia lapidescens. Chem. Pharm. Bull. 40 261-263. 

A study by Forrest and Wainright216 of / -D-glucans isolated from barley endosperm, a tissue containing secondary walls, showed that these polysaccharides contain from 1 to 3% of a peptide. These authors suggested that the peptides are an integral part of the / -D-glucans. 

This polysaccharide appears to be identical with a glucan (isolated from cultures of Agrobacterium tumefaciens) in which the main linkage between the D-glucose residues is - )S-D-(1 —> 2). The synthetic glucan obtained with active preparations from Rhizobium japonicum contains, in addition to this linkage, some )3-D-(l — 3)-... 

The present article reviews the existing knowledge on the immunological activity of the fungal P-glucans and provides some recent results on the radioprotective and antimutagenic activity of the P-glucan isolated fr-om the baker s yeast. 

Protein-bound P-glucan. Isol. from the mushroom Coriolus versicolor CM-101. Antineoplastic agent. 

Some a-anomer present in the crystalline state. Acid hydrolysis product of Laminarin, L-20, pachyman and yeast P-glucan. Isol. from the partial hydrolysate of sclerotia of Sclerotiorum sclerotinia. Dihydrate (MeOH). 

Saito K, Nishijima M, Ohno N, Nagi N, Yadomae T, Miyazaki T (1992) Activation of complement and Limulus coagulation systems by an alkali-soluble glucan isolated from Omphalia lapidescens and its less-branched derivatives (Studies on fungal polysaccharide XXXIX). Chem Pharm Bull 40(5) 1227-1230... 

V. Nosalova, P. Bobek, S. Cerna, S. Galbavy, S. Stvrtina, Effects of pleuran (6-glucan isolated from Pleurotus ostreatus) on experimental colitis in rats. Physiol Res., 50, 575-581, 2001. 

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