Carbohydrates of the fresh water algaTribonema aequale. I. Low molecular weight and polysaccharides

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Abstract
Glycerol, erythritol, xylitol, glucose and mannitol have been separated and characterised as low molecular weight carbohydrates of Tribonema aequale Pascher. Complex mixtures of water-soluble polysaccharides comprising glucose, galactose, mannose, rhamnose, fucose and traces of arabinose and xylose were also identified. The major alkali-soluble polysaccharides were characterised as a 1, 6-linked glucan and 1, 4- and 1, 3-linked xylans. These polysaccharides defied fractionation and it is possible that the various structural features are present in a single heteropolysaccharide. Evidence for the presence of a small proportion of 1, 3-linked glucose units was also obtained but enzymic studies failed to confirm the presence of a β-1, 3-linked glucan. Proof was obtained that the residual cell-wall comprises cellulose.