Studies on the Xylan from the Red Seaweed Rhodymenia palmata.

Abstract
Two fractions of the xylan from Rhodymenia palmata (L.) Grev. have been investigated by methylation analysis. In agreement with previous studies both polysaccharides were found to have a linear structure, the chain containing [beta]-(l [forward arrow] 3)- and [beta]-(1 [forward arrow] 4)-linkages. The ratiobetween these linkages of approximately 1: 2 was slightly different in the two samples. One of the xylan fractions was hydrolysed by a specific enzyme and a mixture of a hexasaccharide, two pentasaccharides and two tetrasaccharides, all of which contained one [beta]-(l [forward arrow] 3)-linkage, was isolated and the components were characterized. The significance of these findings, with regard to the structure of the polysaccharides and the specificity of the enzyme, are discussed.