Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

An alkali-soluble polysaccharide from the cell walls of Coprinus lagopus

  • Published:
Archives of Microbiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

An alkali-soluble polysaccharide was isolated from the purified mycelial walls of Coprinus lagopus. The hydrolysis products, optical rotation, and infrared spectrum indicate a β-glucan. Hydrolysis of the glucan after permethylation gave only 2,3,4,6-tetra-, 2,4,6-tri-, and 2,4-di-O-methyl-d-glucose. These methylated sugars and their relative quantities reveal that the glucan is a polysaccharide containing β-1,3-linked glucose units with about 14% of the sugars having 1,6-linked branch points. Partial hydrolysis of the product derived from Smith degradation of the glucan released laminaribiose and gentiobiose suggesting that the branches are generally longer than a single glucose unit.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aronson, J. M.: The cell wall. In: The fungi, Vol. 1 (G. C. Ainsworth, A. S. Sussman, eds.), pp. 49–76. New York-London: Academic Press 1965

    Google Scholar 

  • Bacon, J. S. D., Jones, D., Farmer, V. C., Webley, D. M.: The occurrence of α(1–3) glucan in Cryptococcus, Schizosaccharomyces, and Polyporus species, and its hydrolysis by a Streptomyces culture filtrate lysing cell walls of Cryptococcus. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.) 158, 313–315 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Barker, S. A., Bourne, E., Stacey, M., Whiffen, D.: Infra-red spectra of carbohydrates. Part I. Some derivatives of d-glucopyranose. J. chem. Soc. 1954, 171–176

  • Bartnicki-Garcia, S.: Cell wall chemistry, morphogenesis and taxonomy of fungi. Ann. Rev. Microbiol. 22, 87–108 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Duff, R. B.: The constitution of a glucosan from the fungus Polyporus betulinus. J. chem. Soc. 1952, 2592–2594

  • Frey, R.: Chitin und Zellulose in Pilzzellwänden. Ber. Schweiz. bot. Ges. 60, 199–230 (1950)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gorin, P. A. J., Spencer, J. F. T.: Structural chemistry of fungal polysaccharides. Advanc. Carbohydr. Chem. 23, 367–417 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gough, T. A., Walker, E. A.: The reliability of peak area measurements. J. Chromatogr. 45, 14–23 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Haworth, W. N.: A new method of preparing alkylated sugars. J. chem. Soc. 107, 8–16 (1915)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hay, G. W., Lewis, B. A., Smith, F.: Periodate oxidation of polysaccharides; general procedures. In: Methods in carbohydrate chemistry, Vol. 1 (R. L. Whistler, ed.), pp. 357–361. New York-London: Academic Press 1965

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunsley, D., Burnett, J. H.: The ultrastructural architecture of the walls of some hyphal fungi. J. gen. Microbiol. 62, 203–218 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Knaak, L. E., Collins, R. P., Chang, N.: Anthocyanins of Stapelia. Lloydia 32, 148–152 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kreger, D. R.: Observations on cell walls of yeasts and some other fungi by X-ray diffraction and solubility tests. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst) 13, 1–9 (1954)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuhn, R., Trischmann, H.: Permethylierung von Inosit und anderen Kohlenhydraten mit Dimethylsulfat. Chem. Ber. 96, 284–287 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Madelin, M. F.: Studies on the nutrition of Coprinus lagopus especially as affecting fruiting. Ann. Bot. N.S. 20, 307–330 (1956)

    Google Scholar 

  • Michalenko, G. O., Hohl, H., Rast, D.: Chemistry and architecture of the mycelial wall of Agaricus bisporus. J. gen. Microbiol. 92, 251–262 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Siehr, D. J.: Studies on the cell wall of Schizophyllum commune. Permethylation and enzymatic hydrolysis. Canad. J. Biochem. 54, 130–136 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Strunk, C.: Über die Substruktur der Hyphenspitzen von Polystictus versicolor. Z. allg. Mikrobiol. 3, 265–274 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Strunk, C.: Licht- und elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen an regenerierenden Protoplasten von Polystictus versicolor. Z. allg. Mikrobiol. 9, 205–216 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wessels, J. G. H., Kreger, D., Marchant, R., Regensberger, B. A., DeVries, O. M. H.: Chemical and morphological characterization of the hyphal wall surface of the basidiomycete Schizophyllum commune. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.) 273, 346–358 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Harold P. Schaefer

    Present address: Department of Biology, Bridgewater State College, 02324, Bridgewater, MA, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biological Science Group, University of Connecticut, 06268, Storrs, CT, USA

    Harold P. Schaefer

Authors
  1. Harold P. Schaefer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Adapted from a portion of a dissertation submitted in partial fullfillment of the requirements for the Ph.D. degree in botany at the University of Connecticut under the direction of Dr. Ralph P. Collins

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Schaefer, H.P. An alkali-soluble polysaccharide from the cell walls of Coprinus lagopus . Arch. Microbiol. 113, 79–82 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00428584

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00428584

Key words

Search

Navigation