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Comparison of the induction of immunoglobulin M and G antibodies in mice with purified pneumococcal type 3 and meningococcal group C polysaccharides and their protein conjugates.

The nature and kinetics of the serum antibody response to pneumococcal type 3 and meningococcal group C polysaccharides and their protein conjugates were studied in mice. Bovine serum albumin and diphtheria and tetanus toxoids were used as carrier proteins. The purified polysaccharides induced only immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies in thymus-bearing as well as congenic athymic (nude) mice. The polysaccharides covalently conjugated to proteins produced IgM and IgG antibodies in normal mice, but only IgM antibodies in nude mice. A second dose of the polysaccharide-protein conjugates resulted in a booster effect in the IgG response to the polysaccharides. Moreover, memory B-cells, generated after a primary injection with the polysaccharide-protein conjugates, could be triggered to the production of IgG antibodies after a second injection with the pure polysaccharides alone. These data indicate that the antibody response to the pure polysaccharides is thymus independent and that this response can be changed into a thymus-dependent response by covalent conjugation of the polysaccharide to a thymus-dependent protein.

Animals↗

Reactivity and immunogenicity of bivalent (AC) and tetravalent (ACW135Y) meningococcal vaccines containing O-acetyl-negative or O-acetyl-positive group C polysaccharide.

The immunogenicity and the reactivity of two bivalent (AC) and two tetravalent (ACW135Y) meningococcal vaccines containing either the O-acetyl-positive or the O-acetyl-negative group C polysaccharide were compared in healthy adolescent and adult volunteers. The vaccines contained high-molecular-weight, purified capsular meningococcal polysaccharides and were administered subcutaneously at a dose of 50 micrograms for each polysaccharide. Reactivity was low for all vaccines, and the tetravalent vaccines were not significantly more reactive than the bivalent vaccines. Immunogenicity was measured by assay of bactericidal antibodies in pre- and postvaccination sera. More than 90% of the vaccines had at least a fourfold increase in the bactericidal antibody titer against each group of meningococcus represented in the vaccines. Addition of polysaccharide W135 and polysaccharide Y to polysaccharides A and C did not alter the immunogenicity of the latter polysaccharides. Thus, there is no evidence of antigenic competition with the tetravalent vaccine. Comparison of the antibody response to the O-acetyl-positive and the O-acetyl-negative variants of group C polysaccharide in the bivalent vaccines, as measured by both bactericidal and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, indicates that in adults, the two types of group C polysaccharide are similarly immunogenic.

Adolescent↗

Serological characterization of Streptococcus mutans serotype polysaccharide g and its different molecular weight forms.

The serotype polysaccharide g from Streptococcus mutans 6715 was found to cross-react with serotype polysaccharide a from S. mutans HS6 and serotype polysaccharide d from S. mutans B13. Double immunodiffusion experiments indicated that the serotype polysaccharide g consisted of the following: (i) the type-specific g site; (ii) a cross-reactive site g-a that was in common with polysaccharide a; (iii) a cross-reactive site g-d that was in common with polysaccharide d; and (iv) a cross-reactive site g-(a-d) that was in common with both polysaccharides a and d. Moreover, by a procedure involving several column chromatography steps, six polysaccharide-containing fractions showing reactivity with anti-g serum were found. By gel filtration, the molecular weight estimates of fractions LI, LII, LIII, SI, SII, and SIII were 2 X 10(6), 5 X 10(5), 6 X 10(4), 3 X 10(4), 1.4 X 10(4), and 1 X 10(4), respectively. Double immunodiffusion analysis indicated that LI, LII, and LIII contained the four antigenic sites of the putative polysaccharide g. LII also contained another additional immunodominant region, designated site x. The analysis also suggested that fraction SI lacked the type-specific site g, fraction SII lacked sites g and g-a, and fraction SIII lacked sites g, g-a, and g-d.

Antigens, Bacterial↗

Chemical composition and immunological specificity of the streptococcal group O cell wall polysaccharide antigen.

The group O streptococcal group antigen was shown to be a polysaccharide located in the cell wall of the organism. The antigen could be extracted by one of several methods: (i) 0.5 n NaOH at 37 C, (ii) phenol-water (50:50) at 68 C, (iii) 0.2 n HCl at 100 C, or (iv) 10% trichloroacetic acid at 4 C. The last method yielded more polysaccharide with less protein contamination. The polysaccharide was purified on diethylaminoethyl-Sephadex A-25 and Sephadex G-200. It was composed of two-thirds glucosamine and galactosamine, and the remainder glucose plus galactose. Rhamnose, glycerol, ribitol, and muramic acid were absent. Total phosphorus and amino acids were each less than 0.1%. N-Acetyl-beta-d-glucosamine exerted a strong inhibition of the precipitin reaction and is considered the immunodominant sugar. Glucosamine and glucose possessed a partial inhibitory activity. Galactose and galactosamine were essentially negative. No evidence of cross-reactivity was found between the O polysaccharide and group A and L polysaccharides, and group A and Staphylococcus aureus teichoic acids, which posesss N-acetylglucosamine specificity. The release of limited quantities of N-acetyl-glucosamine from its terminal location by enzyme, and glucose by acid hydrolysis, indicates a limited number of side chains in the O antigen. The glucosamine is in acid-stable linkage in the polysaccharide. Glucose was not released by beta-glucosidase and probably does not occupy a terminal position. The O antigen is the only known streptococcal polysaccharide antigen which does not contain rhamnose. The effect of these factors on the immunological specificity is discussed. O serum, after adsorption with the purified polysaccharide, was used to demonstrate the presence of protein antigens in acid extracts of cells from each of the nine strains examined. These antigens may represent type antigens. Two of these strains, originally described as group O, did not contain the O polysaccharide.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

Immunochemical characterization of two surface polysaccharides of Bacteroides fragilis.

Immunochemical analysis of the capsular polysaccharide from Bacteroides fragilis NCTC 9343 revealed a novel structure composed of two distinct polysaccharides. Immunoelectrophoresis of an extract of purified surface polysaccharide from fermenter-grown organisms showed a complex precipitin profile with varying anodal mobility. DEAE-Sephacel anion-exchange chromatography of the polysaccharide extract failed to separate the majority of this aggregate. Disaggregation of this complex was accomplished by very mild acid treatment; purification was achieved by DEAE-Sephacel anion-exchange chromatography. Polysaccharide A had a neutral charge at pH 7.3, a net negative charge at pH 8.6, and an average Mr = 110,000; chemical analysis showed it to contain galactose, galactosamine, and an unidentified amino sugar. Polysaccharide B eluted from the anion-exchange column with increased salt concentration; it had a net negative charge and an average Mr = 200,000, and contained fucose, galactose, quinovosamine, galacturonic acid, and glucosamine. Neither of these polysaccharides contained detectable 3-deoxy-D-manno-octolusonic acid, and both were recognized as distinct antigens on the basis of their reactivity with monoclonal antibodies CE3 and F10, which reacted with the complex before acid treatment. These data indicate that the capsule of B. fragilis NCTC 9343 comprises two discrete, surface-exposed polysaccharides with differing physiochemical properties that are distinct from the lipopolysaccharide of this organism. The finding of two surface polysaccharides has not been described for other bacteria pathogenic to humans.

Animals↗

Molecular characterization of a Brucella species large DNA fragment deleted in Brucella abortus strains: evidence for a locus involved in the synthesis of a polysaccharide.

A Brucella melitensis 16M DNA fragment of 17,119 bp, which contains a large region deleted in B. abortus strains and DNA flanking one side of the deletion, has been characterized. In addition to the previously identified omp31 gene, 14 hypothetical genes have been identified in the B. melitensis fragment, most of them showing homology to genes involved in the synthesis of a polysaccharide. Considering that 10 of the 15 genes are missing in B. abortus and that all the polysaccharides described in the Brucella genus (lipopolysaccharide, native hapten, and polysaccharide B) have been detected in all the species, it seems likely that the genes described here might be part of a cluster for the synthesis of a novel Brucella polysaccharide. Several polysaccharides have been identified as important virulence factors, and the discovery of a novel polysaccharide in the brucellae which is probably not synthesized in B. abortus might be interesting for a better understanding of the pathogenicity and host preference differences observed between the Brucella species. However, the possibility that the genes described in this paper no longer encode the synthesis of a polysaccharide cannot be excluded. Brucellae belong to the alpha-2 subdivision of the class Proteobacteria, which includes other microorganisms living in association with eucaryotic cells, some of them synthesizing extracellular polysaccharides involved in the interaction with the host cell. The genes described in this paper might be a remnant of the common ancestor of the alpha-2 subdivision of the class Proteobacteria, and the brucellae might have lost such extracellular polysaccharide during evolution if it was not necessary for survival or for establishment of the infectious process. Nevertheless, further studies are necessary to identify the entire DNA fragment missing in B. abortus strains and to elucidate the mechanism responsible for such deletion, since only 9,948 bp of the deletion was present in the sequenced B. melitensis DNA fragment.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the capsular polysaccharides of Escherichia coli K1 and other bacteria.

Methods were developed for the polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis of capsular polysaccharides of bacteria with Escherichia coli K1 as a model. Conditions were determined for the rapid and gentle extraction of the K1 polysaccharide by incubation of the bacteria in a volatile buffer and for the subsequent removal of the putative phospholipid moiety attached to the reducing end of the polysaccharide. Detection of the polysaccharides after gel electrophoresis was carried out by fluorography of samples labeled by sodium borotritiide reduction or by combined alcian blue and silver staining. The smallest components could be detected only by fluorography, owing to diffusion during staining. Components of the E. coli K1 polysialic acid capsule ranging from monomers to 80 sialic-acid-unit-containing polymers could be separated as distinct bands in a ladderlike pattern. A maximum chain length of 160 to 230 sialyl residues was estimated for the bulk of the K1 polysaccharide from the nearly linear reciprocal relationship between the logarithm of the molecular size and the distance of migration. Gel electrophoresis of capsular polysaccharides of other bacterial species revealed different electrophoretic mobilities for each polysaccharide, with a ladderlike pattern displayed by the fastest-moving components. There are many potential applications of this facile method for the determination of the sizes of molecules present in a polydisperse polysaccharide sample. When combined with the simple method for the isolation of the capsule, as in the case of the K1 capsule, it provides an efficient tool for the characterization and comparison of the capsular polysaccharides of bacteria.

Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel↗

Attachment of Agrobacterium tumefaciens to carrot cells and Arabidopsis wound sites is correlated with the presence of a cell-associated, acidic polysaccharide.

An early step in crown gall tumor formation involves the attachment of Agrobacterium tumefaciens to host plant cells. A. tumefaciens C58::A205 (C58 attR) is a Tn3HoHo1 insertion mutant that was found to be avirulent on Bryophyllum daigremontiana and unable to attach to carrot suspension cells. The mutation mapped to an open reading frame encoding a putative protein of 247 amino acids which has significant homology to transacetylases from many bacteria. Biochemical analysis of polysaccharide extracts from wild-type strain C58 and the C58::A205 mutant showed that the latter was deficient in the production of a cell-associated polysaccharide. Anion-exchange chromatography followed by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses showed that the polysaccharide produced by strain C58 was an acetylated, acidic polysaccharide and that the polysaccharide preparation contained three sugars: glucose, glucosamine, and an unidentified deoxy-sugar. Application of the polysaccharide preparation from strain C58 to carrot suspension cells prior to inoculation with the bacteria effectively inhibited attachment of the bacteria to the carrot cells, whereas an identical preparation from strain C58::A205 had no inhibitory effect and did not contain the acidic polysaccharide. Similarly, preincubation of Arabidopsis thaliana root segments with the polysaccharide prevented attachment of strain C58 to that plant. This indicates that the acidic polysaccharide may play a role in the attachment of A. tumefaciens to host soma plant cells.

Acetyltransferases↗

Extracellular polysaccharide production by Klebsiella pneumoniae and its relationship to virulence.

Klebsiella pneumoniae serotype 1 and serotype 2 and their capsular variants were examined for production of cell-associated capsular polysaccharides and extracellular capsular polysaccharides. The virulence of these organisms in experimental animals was examined via intraperitoneal injection in mice and transtracheal inoculation into the lungs of rats. It was found that the production of either polysaccharide component correlated with the observed virulence. The extracellular polysaccharides were purified by ethanol precipitation, electrodialysis, extraction with quaternary ammonium salts, and gel filtration. These purification steps allowed for the separation and purification of both the extracellular lipopolysaccharide and the extracellular capsular polysaccharide. Purified extracellular capsular polysaccharide and extracellular lipopolysaccharide were co-injected with K. pneumoniae intraperitoneally into mice to determine if either of these substances would produce an effect on the natural course of infection in these animals. These studies showed that only purified extracellular lipopolysaccharide enhanced the virulence of K. pneumoniae when co-injected into mice, and this virulence enhancement correlated with the content of extracellular lipopolysaccharide, but not extracellular capsular polysaccharide in mixtures of these polysaccharides. Saponification of K. pneumoniae serotype 1 extracellular polysaccharides significantly decreased their virulence-enhancing capabilities in mice, further suggesting that extracellular lipopolysaccharide may play a role in these infections.

Animals↗

Immunogenicity in animals of a polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccine against type III group B Streptococcus.

The native capsular polysaccharide of type III group B Streptococcus elicits a specific antibody response in only 60% of nonimmune human subjects. To enhance the immunogenicity of this polysaccharide, we coupled the type III polysaccharide to tetanus toxoid. Prior to coupling, aldehyde groups were introduced on the polysaccharide by controlled periodate oxidation, resulting in the conversion of 25% of the sialic acid residues of the polysaccharide to residues of the 8-carbon analogue of sialic acid, 5-acetamido-3,5-dideoxy-D-galactosyloctulosonic acid. Tetanus toxoid was conjugated to the polysaccharide by reductive amination, via the free aldehyde groups present on the partially oxidized sialic acid residues. Rabbits vaccinated with the conjugate vaccine produced IgG antibodies that reacted with the native type III group B streptococcal polysaccharide (3/3 rabbits), while rabbits immunized with the unconjugated type III polysaccharide failed to respond (0/3 rabbits). Sera from animals receiving conjugate vaccine opsonized type III group B streptococci for phagocytic killing by human peripheral blood leukocytes, and protected mice against lethal challenge with live type III group B streptococci. The results suggest that this method of conjugation to a carrier protein may be a useful strategy to improve the immunogenicity of the type III group B Streptococcus polysaccharide in human subjects.

Animals↗

[Effects of selenium polysaccharide and sodium selenite on blood selenium concentration and liver cytochrome P450 monooxygenase system in rat].

The effects of selenium polysaccharide and sodium selenite administered by single or repetitive intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) on blood selenium concentration, the activities of liver cytochrome P450, b5 as well as NAD(P)H cytochrome C reductase, glutathione S-transferase and glutathione were studied in rats. The biological effects of selenium polysaccharide and sodium selenite were also compared. The results indicated that the blood selenium concentration was increased rapidly and reached the peak in 2 hours followed by gradual decline after selenium polysaccharide and sodium selenite were i.p. injected at a dose of Se 0.6 mg/kg. The absorption and eliminating rates of Se from sodium selenite were faster than that from selenium polysaccharide. Administration of selenium polysaccharide and sodium selenite at a dose of 0.2 mg/kg by i.p. increased the blood selenium concentration to 2.6 and 2.1 times of those of control group, respectively, and the blood selenium concentration of selenium polysaccharide group was significantly higher than that of sodium selenite group (P < 0.05). The activities of liver cytochrome P450, b5 and GST were inhibited by selenium polysaccharide and sodium selenium in vivo and in vitro experiments. Those proteins were decreased to 57%, 70% and 62% of the control, respectively, by selenium polysaccharide which has particularly stronger effects on cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase system (P < 0.05). The two selenium compounds did not appear to affect the activity of NAD(P)H cytochrome C reductase. Both of the selenium polysaccharide and sodium selenite could enhance the activity of glutathion peroxidase significantly (P < 0.05).

Animals↗

Antitumor and immunoenhancing activities of polysaccharide from culture broth of Hericium spp.

The fruiting body and culture broth of many edible mushrooms contain water-soluble polysaccharides. Numerous researchers have reported that these polysaccharides have immunoenhancing effects. In this study, Hericium erinaceus and Hericium laciniatum were separately cultivated in a shaker at 25 degrees C for 25 days. Polysaccharides were extracted from the culture broth. The molecular weights were larger than 1 x 10(5) k Da and their polysaccharide components were mainly glucose in H. erinaceus and galactose in H. laciniatum. Furthermore, we investigated these two purified water-soluble polysaccharides for their anti-artificial pulmonary metastatic tumor and immunoenhancing effects in ICR mice. The results revealed that both polysaccharides had significant anti-artificial pulmonary metastatic tumor effects in mice (p < 0.05). Additionally, the polysaccharide from H. erinaceus was more effective than that from H. laciniatum. However, both of the polysaccharides enhanced the increase of T cells and macrophages. The numbers of CD4+ cells and macrophages were significantly higher in the test group than in the control group (p < 0.05). From our results, no differences were found between the two purified water-soluble polysaccharides in the antitumor effects and immunoenhancing activities (p > 0.05).

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

[Effect of cultivation parameters on the composition of extracellular polysaccharide containing substances in bacterium Azospirillum brasilense].

Maintenance of pH 7.0 during the fermentation period favors accumulation of high-molecular polysaccharide-containing components, the so-called lipopolysaccharide-protein and polysaccharide-lipid complexes, in the capsules and culture medium. Increased pH of the culture medium to 8.0 reduced the period of exponential growth and the yield of polysaccharide-containing complexes as compared to the optimal conditions. Maintenance of pH 5.5 suppressed the culture growth and polysaccharide production. The polysaccharide-lipid complexes obtained when pH was stabilized at the level of 7.0-8.0 had a relatively low molecular weight and contained only acidic polysaccharides. The use of potassium gluconate instead of sodium malate as a source of carbon in the culture medium changed the polysaccharide composition and increased the content of glucosamine, which increased the attraction of polysaccharides to wheat germ agglutinin. Prolongation of Azospirillum cultivation to five days introduced new glucose-containing polysaccharide components in the capsule.

Azospirillum brasilense↗

Characterization of polysaccharides from the flowers of Nerium indicum and their neuroprotective effects.

Degeneration of neurons is a key problem in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and neuroprotection is a possible way to safeguard neurons from neurodegeneration. Polysaccharides isolated from Chinese medicinal herbs have been investigated extensively for their anti-tumor and immune stimulating effects. Yet, little is known about the effects of polysaccharides in neurons. Recently, two pure polysaccharides isolated from the flowers of Nerium indicum were shown to stimulate proliferation and differentiation of PC12 pheochromocytoma cells, an effect similar to that observed from nerve growth factor. In this notion, it is hypothesized that polysaccharides isolated from the flowers of N. indicum could exhibit beneficial effects in neurons. In this study, we isolated, characterized and investigated two new polysaccharides from the flowers of N. indicum for their neuroprotective effects on neurons against serum-deprivation and beta-amyloid (Abeta) peptide toxicity in primary rat cortical neuronal cultures. Pretreatment of the polysaccharides significantly reduced the number of apoptotic neurons revealed by DAPI staining when neurons were exposed to serum-free medium. Besides, the polysaccharides could also decrease the activity of caspase-3 triggered by Abeta peptides. Western blot analysis indicated that polysaccharides stimulated the phosphorylation of PDK-1 (Serine 241) and Akt (Threonine 308). In conclusion, the polysaccharides J2, J3 and J4 isolated from N. indicum provide a lead for future development of neuroprotective agent against neuronal death in neurodegenerative diseases and the neuroprotective mechanism may primarily rely on activation of Akt survival signaling pathway.

Animals↗

Immunization of humans with polysaccharide vaccines induces systemic, predominantly polymeric IgA2-subclass antibody responses.

Ig class- and IgA subclass-specific immune responses to protein and polysaccharide Ag were studied in serum, external secretions, and at the single cell level in peripheral blood of systemically immunized adults. Immunization with tetanus toxoid induced predominantly IgG antibody responses in serum and in the PBMC. The IgA antibody response was low, and was mostly of the IgA1 subclass. In contrast, immunization with polysaccharide Ag (Haemophilus influenzae type b, Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A, C, Y, W-135, and Streptococcus pneumoniae capsular polysaccharides) elicited a major IgA response predominantly of the IgA2 isotype. Analysis of the molecular forms of secreted IgA antibodies indicated that polymers were produced early after immunization, irrespective of the nature of the Ag. When compared with serum antibody and to PBMC cell responses, systemic immunization with polysaccharides induced a minor salivary response dominated by IgG and IgM antibodies. In contrast, the presence of antipolysaccharide antibodies in bile, irrespective of their isotype, paralleled the serum response 14 days after the immunization with polysaccharide Ag. These results suggest that biliary Ig were mostly derived from serum. Different patterns of the expression of MHC class II Ag on T cells, B cells, and monocytes during the course of immunization with protein or polysaccharide Ag were observed: whereas protein Ag induced a high frequency of HLA-DP- and HLA-DR-expressing cells early in the course of immunization, polysaccharide vaccines elicited low and protracted increases of HLA-DP+ T cells. Polysaccharide vaccine covalently coupled to a protein carrier induced a higher frequency of antipolysaccharide antibody-secreting cells in peripheral blood and increased the IgG to IgA ratio among polysaccharide-specific antibody-secreting cells.

Adult↗

Biological activities of crude polysaccharide extracted from two different immunotype strains of Hemophilus gallinarum in chickens.

Biological activities in chickens of crude polysaccharide extracted from two different immunotype strains of Hemophilus gallinarum (HG), strain 221 and S1, were studied to clarify a type-specific protecting antigen and a toxin. Crude polysaccharide materials extracted from strains 221 and S1 were not only protective but toxic to chickens. They also contained at least two heat-labile antigens. When the polysaccharide materials were subjected to gel filtration on Sepharose 6B by tracing at 280 and 490 nm, the protective and toxic activities could be fractionated as peak-1 and -2 polysaccharides, respectively. The fraction of peak-1 polysaccharides from strains 221 and S1 was eluted at void volume. Cross-protection was not found between strains 221 and S1 in the fraction of peak-1 polysaccharide. Hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibody to type 1 hemagglutinin of HG (trypsin-sensitive hemagglutinin) was detected in chickens immunized with this fraction from strain 221 but not with that from strain S1. Type specificity between both strains was also found in this fraction by agar-gel precipitation (AGP) test. On the other hand, the toxic fraction of peak-2 polysaccharide, which caused hydropericardium in chickens, had a lower molecular weight than did that of peak-1 polysaccharide. It did not give HI antibody in chickens. Common antigenicity between strains 221 and S1 was found in the peak-2 polysaccharide by AGP test.

Animals↗

New technology for regiospecific covalent coupling of polysaccharide antigens in ELISA for serological detection.

In this study we demonstrate a new UV irradiation technique for covalent coupling of bacterial polysaccharides derived from lipopolysaccharides to microtiter plates and the use of such plates in an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Lipopolysaccharides were cleaved by mild acid hydrolysis into the lipid A part and the polysaccharide part. The polysaccharide was conjugated regiospecifically to a photochemically active compound, anthraquinone, resulting in a polysaccharide-anthraquinone conjugate. Anthraquinones forms active radicals when exposed to soft UV irradiation (350 nm) permitting the formation of stable covalent bonds to polymers e.g. microtiter plates. By this technique the polysaccharides are bound through the anthraquinone part of the polysaccharide-anthraquinone conjugates to the microtiter plates. This minimizes denaturation of O-antigen epitopes during binding to the microtiter plates and avoids cross-reactivity due to conserved domains in the lipid A. Furthermore, the covalent binding of the polysaccharide antigens are compatible with harsh assay conditions, such as extensive washing procedures and buffers with high salt concentrations with no risk of antigen leakage. Here we describe the use of this technique for the immobilization of lipopolysaccharide derived polysaccharides from Salmonella Typhimurium and Salmonella Choleraesuis lipopolysaccharides, representing the O-antigens 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 12. The functional polysaccharide surface gave similar ELISA results to plates coated passively with the corresponding unmodified lipopolysaccharide antigens. The plates were highly reproducible, showed very low inter- and intra-plate variation and were stable at room temperature for more than 8 months.

Animals↗

Patterns of polysaccharide biosynthesis in differentiating cells of maize root-tips.

1. The patterns of incorporation of radioactivity from d-[6-(3)H]-, d-[1-(14)C]-, d-[U-(14)C]- and d-[6-(14)C]-glucose and [U-(14)C]myoinositol into the neutral sugars and uronic acids of the polysaccharides synthesized in different regions of the root-tip of maize were determined. 2. The root-cap tissue synthesized a slime in which a polysaccharide that contained a high proportion of fucose (32%) and galactose (21%) was found. This polysaccharide is synthesized only by the root-cap cells, and very little polysaccharide containing fucose is synthesized in adjacent tissues. Part of the meristematic tissue of the root is surrounded by the cap cells. A section of the root that contains both these tissues can be analysed, and the polysaccharide synthesized by the meristematic region can be obtained since the contribution of the root-cap cells can be found by the amount of fucose formed. 3. It was shown that there is very little difference in the polysaccharide synthesis of the meristematic region from that of the cells immediately behind it. In the more mature cells, however, the amount of xylose synthesized relative to that of arabinose is increased, and the proportion of xylose and arabinose formed in the matrix polysaccharides is increased whereas that of galactose is decreased. 4. The effect of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) on polysaccharide synthesis was to bring about a decrease in the relative amount of galactose synthesized in the matrix polysaccharides of cells immediately adjacent to the meristematic region and also in the more mature tissue. The growth factor also increased the amount of xylose synthesized relative to that of arabinose in the more mature tissue. These metabolic effects were related to a very obvious change in the morphological appearance of the root-tips. 5. Radioactivity from [U-(14)C]myoinositol was incorporated mainly into xylose, arabinose and galacturonic acid rather than into the hexoses, although small amounts of these sugars were formed.

Carbohydrates↗