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Partial characterization of extracellular polysaccharides produced by cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis

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Abstract

In this study, the physico-chemical characteristics of extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) produced by Arthrospira platensis were evaluated. Elemental analysis and a bicinchoninic acid (BCA) reaction indicated that the EPS were heteropolysaccharides that contain carbohydrate (13%) and protein (55%) moieties. Analysis of the infrared spectrum and elemental analysis revealed the presence of a sulfate group (0.5%). The UV-visible spectrum showed high UV absorption at 190∼230 nm and a shoulder at 260∼280 nm. In addition, this spectrum indicated that EPS can form aggregates with mycosporine-like amino acids and/or scytonemin. Gas chromatography analysis of the carbohydrate portion of the EPS indicated that it was composed of seven neutral sugars: galactose (14.9%), xylose (14.3%), glucose (13.2%), frucose (13.2%), rhamnose (3.7%), arabinose (1%), and mannose (0.3%) and two uronic acids, galacturonic acid (13.5%) and glucuronic acid (0.9%).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Marine Biodiversity and Biotechnology, National Institute of Marine Sciences and Technology, Monastir, 5000, Tunisia

    Lamia Trabelsi & Hatem Ben Ouada

  2. Laboratory of Polymers, Bio-polymers and Organic Materials, Faculty of Sciences, Monastir, 5019, Tunisia

    Nour Houda M’sakni & Sadok Roudesli

  3. Laboratoire de Recherches sur les Substances Biologiquement Compatibles, Faculte de Medecine Dentaire, Monastir, 5000, Tunisia

    Hassen Bacha

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  1. Lamia Trabelsi
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  2. Nour Houda M’sakni
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  3. Hatem Ben Ouada
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  4. Hassen Bacha
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  5. Sadok Roudesli
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Correspondence to Lamia Trabelsi.

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Trabelsi, L., M’sakni, N.H., Ben Ouada, H. et al. Partial characterization of extracellular polysaccharides produced by cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis . Biotechnol Bioproc E 14, 27–31 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12257-008-0102-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12257-008-0102-8

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