A GLUCAN PRODUCED BY CLAVICEPS PURPUREA

Abstract

A glucan is produced by pure cultures of Claviceps purpurea (Fr.) Tul., PRL 1980, and its formation appears to be related to the accumulation of other shunt products such as ergot alkaloids, polyols, and trehalose. The glucan consists of [beta]-D-glucopyranosyl units, most of which constitute a (1[forward arrow]3)-linked main chain. Other units are attached as branches to units of the main chain by (1-[forward arrow]6)-linkages and are distributed in a relatively uniform arrangement along the length of the polymer. The glucan is resistant to attack by an endo type of laminarinase but is degraded vigorously by one of the exo type, yielding D-glucose and gentiobiose.