Other Algal Polysaccharides

From intrinsic viscosity measurements, the /3-(l - 4)-linked D-mannan found in the cell walls of the alga, Codium, had a DP of ca. 375 and the chain length distribution was nearly monodisperse. The DP was independent of 

The reserve o-glucan stored by the marine diatom Skeletonema costatum is based on a yS-(l - 3)-o-glucan backbone with occasional branch points at C-2 and C-6. Although this structure is called a Chrysolaminaran-type , none of the polysaccharide chains were terminated at their reducing end by residues of D-mannitol. The molecular weight of these polymers was 1.3 x 10 with an average chain length of ca. 11 residues. 

6-anhydro-D-glucose residues are joined by (1- 4) or (1 - 5) bonds while sulphate groups are linked to 0-2 or 0-4 of sugar residues in the main chain. 

Polyelectrolytic complexes have been prepared by the reaction of chitosan with sodium carboxymethyldextran. Water-soluble precipitates were formed whose composition was affected by the reaction pH, order of mixing of the polyelectrolytes, and the molar ratio of amino-sugar to Na+ ion. There was no measureable interaction between carboxy- and hydroxy-groups in the polysaccharides. The number of binding sites in the complex prepared at pH 3.0 was lower than that in the complex prepared at pH 6.5 but both were able to suppress the coagulation of blood. 

The centric diatom Cyclotella contains a special apparatus for the synthesis of chitin fibrils.  

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M. Duckworth and W. Yaphe, Definitive assay for pyruvic acid in agar and other algal polysaccharides, Chem. Ind., 23 (1970) 747-748. 

Agars are largely polydisperse polysaccharides whose molecular weight ranges from 80 to 420 kDa. These molecules, similarly to other algal polysaccharides, form organised structures (double right-handed helices). 

The Polysaccharides, Vol. 2 (G. O. Aspinall, ed.) Academic, New York (1983). Chap. 1, Classification of polysaccharides Chap. 2, Cellulose Chap. 3, Other plant polysaccharides Chap. 4, Algal polysaccharides Chap. 5, Bacterial polysaccharides Chap. 6, The chemistry of polysaccharides of fimgi and lichens. 

Biofouling involves the formation of biofilm, whereby hydrated algal- or bacterial-based slimes adhere to water-wetted cooling system surfaces and often contain scales, corrosion products, or other debris embedded within a polysaccharide matrix. The role of biofilms in reducing cooling system efficiency and life span is still imperfectly understood. 

Carbohydrates in algae and plants are often classified based on methodological discrimination. The structural carbohydrates are not water-soluble, whereas the other types of carbohydrates are water-soluble and typically extracted by hot water. In Phaeocystis five different pools of carbohydrates can be distinguished. Like all algal and plant cells, both solitary and colonial cells produce (1) structural carbohydrates, polysaccharides that are mainly part of the cell wall, (2) mono- and oligosaccharides, which are present as intermediates in the synthesis and catabolism of cell components, and (3) intracellular storage glucan. Colonial cells of Phaeocystis excrete (4) mucopolysaccharides, heteropolysaccharides that... 

The structural analysis of red algal galactans is similar in many respects to that of other groups of natural polysaccharides, but has some important peculiarities. First of all, the possible presence of both d- and L-galactose derivatives in the same... 

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