A (1→3)-β-d-Glucan Isolated From Zea Shoot Cell Wall Preparations

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Abstract
A small quantity of (1 .fwdarw. 3)-.beta.-D-glucan was extracted with a (1 .fwdarw. 3),(1 .fwdarw. 4)-.beta.-D-glucan by hot water after treatment of the insoluble fraction of a buffer homogenate of Zea shoots with 3 M LiCl. An ammonium sulfate precipitation procedure effected a separation of the (1 .fwdarw. 3)-.beta.-D-glucan from the more prevalent (1 .fwdarw. 3),(1 .fwdarw. 4)-.beta.-D-glucan. The minor component polysaccharide precipitated at a concentration of 20% ammonium sulfate (wt/vol) and was, as a consequence of precipitation, rendered insoluble in water. The insoluble products were dissolved in 1 N NaOH followed by neutralization with CH3COOH. The purified polysaccharide accounted for .apprx. 0.3% of total hot water extract. It consisted mostly of glucose and its average MW was estimated to be about 7.0 .times. 104, based on elution from a calibrated Sepharose CL-4B column. Methylation analysis and enzymic hydrolysis or partial acid-hydrolysis of the polysaccharide followed by analysis of the hydrolysate showed that the polysaccharide consisted of (1 .fwdarw. 3)-.beta.-linked glucose residues.