Chemical Structure of Oligosaccharides in the Blue-green Alga, Tolypothrix tenuis

Abstract

The chemical structure of oligosaccharides isolated from T. tenuis was examined by gas-liquid partition chromatography and enzymatic hydrolysis. After the methylatlon of the sample with methyl iodide catalyzed by methylsulfinyl carbanion, products were subjected to methanolysis. The gas chromatogram of a group of methyl methylated hexosides thus derived from T. tenuis material was compared with those derived from several saccharides, such as sucrose, melezitose, planteose, inulin, and Jerusalem artichoke oligosaccharides. From the results of gas chromatography together with those of enzymatic hydrolysis employing [alpha] - and [beta]-glucosidases and [beta]-fructofuranosidase, a formula of fructofuranosyl-(2[forward arrow]4)n-fructofuranosyl-(2[forward arrow]l)-[alpha]-glucopyranoside is tentatively presented for the T. tenuis oligosaccharides.