STUDIES ON THE METABOLISM OF THE PROTOZOA. 10. THE MOLECULAR STRUCTURE OF THE RESERVE POLYSACCHARIDES FROM OCHROMONAS MALHAMENSIS AND PERANEMA TRICHOPHORUM

Abstract
Aqueous extraction of the flagellate Ochromonas malhamensis yields a mixture of polysaccharides composed of D-glucose, D-galactose and D-mannose. Acetone fractiona-tion of the mixture gave a polysaccharide (leucosin) composed of [beta]-(l[forward arrow] 3)- linked D-glucose residues. Periodate-oxidation studies show that leucosin has a degree of polymerization of about 34, and probably has a slightly branched structure. The reserve polysaccharide of Peranema trichophorum (paramylon) also contains [beta]-(l[forward arrow]3)-linked D-glucose residues. It differs from leucosin in molecular size (degree of polymerization about 80) and in being water-insoluble.