Methylation analyses

Structure of xanthan has been determined by chemical degradation and methylation analysis (335,336) it is composed of repeating units consisting of a main chain of D-glucopyranosyl residues with trisaccharide side chains made up of D-mannopyranosyl and D-glucopyranosyluronic acid residues. 

Xylans as true homopolymers occur in seaweeds of the Palmariales and Nemaliales, however, their backbone consists of Xylp residues linked by -(1 3) (Type X3, Fig. la) or mixed -(1 3, 1 -> 4)-glycosidic linkages (Type Xmy Fig. lb). They are assumed mainly to have a structural function in the cell-wall architecture, but a reserve function cannot be ruled out [4]. From the microfibrils of green algae (Siphonales) such as Caulerpa and Bryop-sis sp., X3 was isolated and the structure confirmed by methylation analysis, C-NMR spectroscopy [7], as well as by mass spectrometry of enzymically released linear oligosaccharides up to a degree of polymerization (DP) of... 

A detailed study of the 0-linked oligosaccharides present on the surface of normal granulocytes, chronic myelogenous leukemia cells, and acute myelogenous leukemia cells has been completed. Structures were elucidated by f.a.b.-m.s. after permethylation, and methylation analysis before and after specific exo-glycosidase treatments. Some of the components were shown by f.a.b.-m.s. to be poly(N-acetyllactosaminyl) oligosaccharides, for example, 29. 

In a study completed during the early development of f.a.b.-m.s., both f.d. and f.a.b. were used to characterize 101 fractions containing neutral oligosaccharides isolated from human milk. Samples were examined as their peracetylated alditols. In subsequent work, the structures of two minor acidic oligosaccharides from human milk were investigated. The per-methylated derivatives were analyzed by f.a.b.-m.s., and their compositions and sequences were defined by the f.a.b. data. Methylation analysis and partial formolysis were the other principal methods used. 

The floss silk from Chorisia speciosa furnished a polysaccharide with a main chain of (1 -> 4) linked P-Xylp substituted at 0-2 by 5 % of uronic acid. The xylan structure also was interposed with a-Rhap units in small amounts. The defatted seeds furnished on aqueous extraction a major fraction, ((9-acetyl, 10 % and protein, 45 %) wich was hydrolysed and analysed by p.c. and GLC, showing Rha (20 %), Ara (16 %), Gal (64 %) and also uronic acids (45 %). Partial hydrolysis gave rise to a polysaccharide free of arabinose, with 46 % of uronic acids. Methylation analysis (GLC -MS) indicated a chain of (1 4) - linked Gal/ (42 % of 2,3,6-Me3-Gal). 

Methylation analysis of PI and FIbp. The fractions were methylated according to Ciucanu and Kerek [8]. The procedure was repeated until no absorbance was detected by I.r. at 2500-3500 cm-i and the per-O-methylated polysaccharides hydrolyzed and analyzed by GLC and GLC-MS of the derived partly O-methylated alditol acetates. 

Table I. Methylation analysis of products from original fraction PI carboxi reduced and remethylated material by g.l.c-m.s. (C. speciosa).

The aim of this project is to get additional information about the fine structure of pectic polysaccharides. Therefore pectins from red beet were isolated and fractionateid by chromatographic methods. Some results obtained by methylation analysis of these pectin-rich fractions are presented. 

Neutral sugar, uronic acid and methylation analysis (mol%) of fractionated pectins from ripe red beets... 

Kvemheim, A.L. (1987). Methylation analysis of polysaccharides with butyllithium in dimethyl sulfoxide. Acta Chem. Scand. Ser. B41,150-152. 

Endo-a-(l-44)-poiygalacturonase digestion gave three fragments eluted in the void volume (PG-lc), intermediate fraction (PG-2c) and the iowest-molecular-weight fraction (PG-3c) from GR-2IIc [6]. Methylation analysis using base-catalyzed -elimination... 

Hakomori methylation analysis, and preparation and GLC gf the PAAN derivatives (4), were used to determine the linkages. C NMR of partially hydrolysed samples confirmed the octasaccharide repeat unit, the beta linkages and the presence of the carboxylic acids. 

---