Structure and antitumor activity of a .BETA.-1,3-glucan isolated from the culture filtrate of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum IFO 9395.

Abstract
An antitumor glucan (SSG) was isolated from the culture filtrate of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum IFO 9395 by sequential use of ethanol precipitation, ion exchange chromatography on diethylaminoethyl-Sephadex A-25, and precipitation with ammonium sulfate. From the results of methylation analysis and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, SSG was concluded to be a .beta.-1,3-D-glucan branched at position 6 of every two 3-substituted .beta.-glucosyl units. SSG formed a complex with congo red in dilute alkali solution, and showed potent antitumor activity against the solid form of sarcoma 180 in ICR mice.