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Oral versus postingestive origin of polysaccharide appetite in the rat.

Previous studies have revealed that rats consume substantial amounts of polysaccharide solutions, even if the solutions are made bitter with the addition of sucrose octa acetate (SOA). The present experiment used the gastric sham-feeding preparation to determine if it is the orosensory or postingestive properties of polysaccharides that motivate rats to consume polysaccharide (Polycose) solutions. In Experiment 1, food deprived rats sham fed less of a 0.05% SOA + 32% Polycose solution than they did of a 32% glucose solution, but their SOA-Polycose intake was still considerable (44 ml/hr). The same rats refused to sham feed SOA-gum and SOA-sugar solutions that were similar to the SOA-Polycose solution in bitter taste, viscosity and free sugar content. In Experiment 2, rats sham fed as much of a 32% Polycose solution as they did of a 32% sucrose solution. Despite the gastric fistula, some of the ingested Polycose was absorbed as evidenced by an increase in the rats' blood glucose levels. The addition of acarbose, a drug that inhibits polysaccharide digestion, to the Polycose solution blocked the increase in blood glucose, but did not reduce the rats' sham feeding of the solution. These findings indicate that it is the orosensory (presumably taste) properties of polysaccharide solutions, not their postingestive effects, that initially attract rats to the solutions. The results question the assumption that polysaccharides are "tasteless" to animals.

Animals↗

Extracellular polysaccharide synthesis by Nostoc strains as affected by N source and light intensity.

A study on the effect of two of the main factors affecting energy flux in N(2)-fixing cyanobacteria, i.e. light intensity and availability of combined nitrogen, on the synthesis of soluble exopolysaccharides was carried out with three strains of the genus Nostoc (PCC 7413, PCC 7936, and PCC 8113) presenting different capsular polysaccharidic morphologies and released polysaccharide productions. Strains acclimated to diazotrophic and non-diazotrophic conditions were cultured at high and low light intensities in aerated batch cultures. High light intensities enhanced total carbohydrate synthesis in all the strains but growth measured as pigment and protein concentration, total and soluble carbohydrate concentrations presented a strain-dependent response to nitrate availability. When adequately acclimated to the presence of nitrate all the capsulated strains tested became non-capsulated, with no extracellular polysaccharide being produced. Carbon availability can be on the basis of the observed correlation between the synthesis of capsular polysaccharides and diazotrophy. The slime-forming strain Nostoc PCC 7413 was the only one releasing polysaccharides into the surrounding medium under both, diazotrophic and non-diazotrophic conditions, with the highest values being obtained in the presence of nitrate. This strain presented the highest total carbohydrate (3.5 gl(-1)), soluble carbohydrate (1.8 gl(-1)) concentrations and viscosity values of all the tested strains. Different mechanisms of nitrogen-control of the synthesis of exocellular polysaccharides are reported for each strain, which results in the requirement of a species-specific optimisation of the cultivation conditions for the development of an efficient technology for the production of cyanobacterial exopolysaccharides.

Cell Culture Techniques↗

Modulation of the serological response to meningococcal polysaccharides by cytokines.

Meningococcal A and C but not B capsular polysaccharides stimulated a low level primary antibody response, predominantly IgM, and no secondary response in 21-day-old CBA/A mice. However, in 56-day-old mice a higher proportion of IgG antibody and a secondary response were produced. When the polysaccharides were injected in conjunction with rDNA derived human interleukin 2 (IL-2) the IgG antibody responses were increased in both age groups and memory cells were primed in the younger mice. IL-2 increased significantly the IgG antibody response to conjugates of A and C polysaccharides with diphtheria mutant protein but exerted a minimal effect on the IgG response to B polysaccharide complexed with aluminium hydroxide and outer membrane proteins. The stimulatory effect of IL-2 on the antibody responses to the polysaccharide antigens was not mediated by T-cells as similar results were obtained in athymic (nu/nu) and thymocompetent (nu/+) mice. However, the response to the A and C oligosaccharide conjugates was T-cell dependent and occurred only in the heterozygotes. In this case the adjuvant effect of IL-2 was seen only in the response to the C polysaccharide conjugate and was transferable with T-lymphocytes from primed animals.

Animals↗

Infant B cell responses to polysaccharide determinants.

Newborns and infants up to the age of 1.5-2 years of age are unable to produce antibodies to bacterial capsular polysaccharides. As a consequence, children up to the age of 2 years have an increased susceptibility for infections with encapsulated bacteria. Capsular polysaccharides are classified as so-called T cell independent type 2 antigens and induce IgG2 antibodies. The mechanism of B lymphocyte activation by polysaccharides differs from that of protein antigens and involves co-stimulation by CD21 (type 2 complement receptor). Reduced expression of CD21 on neonatal B lymphocytes can explain unresponsiveness to polysaccharides. Polysaccharide protein conjugates have the ability to overcome unresponsiveness to polysaccharides early in life. The response induced is predominant IgGl.

B-Lymphocytes↗

Nanoparticle DNA carrier with poly(L-lysine) grafted polysaccharide copolymer and poly(D,L-lactic acid).

Biodegradable nanoparticles, which contain the sites for both polynucleotide adsorption and targeting ligand on their surfaces, were prepared as a novel carrier for genetic materials. The nanoparticles were obtained from poly(D,L-lactic acid) and poly(L-lysine)-graft-polysaccharide copolymers by using either a solvent evaporation method or a diafiltration method. The size of the particles prepared by the diafiltration method was controlled by varying the initial concentration of the graft copolymer. Nanoparticles as small as 60 nm in diameter were successfully obtained from the graft copolymers with high polysaccharide contents but not from the poly(L-lysine) homopolymer. Polysaccharide moieties on the surface of the nanoparticles were found to interact specifically with a particular lectin as verified by the aggregation assay. The polynucleotide adsorption capacity of the nanoparticles was increased with increasing polysaccharide contents in the graft copolymers, suggesting that the adsorption conformation of poly(L-lysine) moiety in the graft copolymer on the nanoparticle surface is different from that in poly(L-lysine) homopolymer. Moreover, the nanoparticles from the graft copolymer exhibited resistance against self-aggregation and nonspecific adsorption of serum proteins, presumably due to the polymer brush effect and/or exclusion effect from the polysaccharide graft chains. These results suggest that the nanoparticles prepared from poly(L-lysine)-graft-polysaccharide copolymer and poly(D,L-lactic acid) can serve as a good DNA carrier in vivo.

Adsorption↗

Application of cystamine and N,N'-Bis(glycyl)cystamine as linkers in polysaccharide-protein conjugation.

Pneumococcal polysaccharide type 6B, 14, or 23F (35-70 kDa) was activated with cyanogen bromide and modified with cystamine. After reduction of the spacer, the thiol-containing (i.e. cysteamine-modified) polysaccharide obtained was added in a 5-10-fold molar excess to bromoacetylated tetanus toxoid to give thioether-linked polysaccharide-protein conjugates in a yield of 10-20%. This approach failed for preparing a type 19F polysaccharide-protein conjugate, possibly due to intramolecular elimination of cysteamine from the reduced 19F polysaccharide. When N,N'-bis(glycyl)cystamine was introduced as a spacer molecule, the elimination of the reduced spacer was suppressed, thus allowing preparation of a 19F polysaccharide-tetanus toxoid conjugate (15%).

Carbohydrate Conformation↗

Structural elucidation of two capsular polysaccharides from one strain of Bacteroides fragilis using high-resolution NMR spectroscopy.

The capsule of Bacteroides fragilis is unusual in that it consists of two distinct capsular polysaccharides. Using a combination of high-resolution NMR spectroscopy, theoretical calculations, and as few chemical procedures as required, the structure of both polysaccharide antigens (polysaccharides A and B) was elucidated. Using the above procedures, it was possible to obtain the complete structures using minimal quantities of polysaccharides A and B (8 and 5 mg, respectively). Only small amounts of each subjected to chemical analysis were not recoverable. Polysaccharide A is composed of the following repeating unit: [----3)alpha-D-AATp(1----4)[beta-D-Galf(1----3)]alpha-D- GalpNAc(1----3)beta-D-Galp(1----], where AAT is 2-acetamido-4-amino-2,4,6-trideoxygalactose. A pyruvate substituent having the R configuration spans O-4 and O-6 of the beta-D-galactopyranosyl residue. Polysaccharide B is composed of the following repeating unit: [----4)alpha-L-QuipNAc(1----3)beta-D-QuipNAc(1----4)[alpha-L - Fucp(1----2)beta-D-GalpA(1----3)beta-D-GlcpNAc(1----3)]alpha -D-Galp(1----]. A 2-aminoethylphosphonate substituent is situated on O-4 of the N-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl residue.

Bacteroides fragilis↗

Structural determination of the capsular polysaccharide of Neisseria meningitidis group I: a two-dimensional NMR analysis.

The capsular polysaccharide antigen of Neisseria meningitidis group I was isolated by Cetavlon precipitation and purified by ion-exchange chromatography. The structure of the I polysaccharide was determined largely by comprehensive proton and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance studies in which both one-dimensional and two-dimensional experiments were carried out directly on the I polysaccharide. The I polysaccharide is composed of the repeating unit----4)alpha-L-GulpNAcA(1----3)[4-OAc]beta-D-ManpNA-cA(-- --in which the former residue adopts the 4C1 (L) conformation and the latter residue adopts the 4C1 (D) conformation. The one-bond coupling between the anomeric carbon and proton (1J13C,H) of the 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-mannuronopyranosyl residue is not consistent with its beta-D configuration. This anomalous value of 1J13C,H for this residue is due to through-space anisotropy effects on its anomeric proton, generated by the proximity of the carboxyl group of the neighboring 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-alpha-L-guluronopyranosyl residue. The O-acetyl substituents of the I polysaccharide are essential for its antigenicity to group I polysaccharide-specific antibodies.

Carbohydrate Conformation↗

Structural studies on the sialic acid polysaccharide antigen of Escherichia coli strain Bos-12.

A polysaccharide, antigenically related to group C meningococcus, has been isolated from Escherichia coli strain Bos-12 (016; K92; NM). Like groups B and C meningococcal polysaccharide, the Bos-12 antigen is a pure polymer of sialic acid. 13C NMR studies on the meningococcal group B and C polysaccharides have indicated that the former consists of sialic acid units linked 2 leads to 8- alpha, whereas the latter contains the sialic acid residues linked 2 leads to 9-alpha (Bhattacharjee, A.K., Jennings, H.J., Kenny, C.P., Martin, A., and Smith, I.C.P. (1975), J. Biol. Chem. 250, 1926). Comparison of natural abundance 13C NMR spectra of the Bos-12 polysaccharide with group B and C meningococcal polysaccharides established that Bos-12 was either (a) an equimolar mixture of 2 leads to 8-alpha linked sialic acid homopolymers or (b) a 2 leads to 8-alpha/2 leads to 9-alpha heteropolymer. These possibilities were distinguished in the following manner. The fact that Bos-12 polysaccharide precipitated with anti-group C serum but not with anti-group B serum would seem to exclude a. Further, chemical studies (periodate oxidation followed by tritiated NaBH4 reduction) gave saccharides with a radioactive-labeling pattern expected for alternating 2 leads to 8-alpha/2 leads to 9-alpha sialic acid linkages. Bos-12 is thus an 2 leads to 8/2 lead to 9-alpha heteropolymer.

Borohydrides↗

Molecular modeling of the flexible cell wall polysaccharide of Streptococcus mitis J22 on the basis of heteronuclear NMR coupling constants.

A method for constructing conformational models of flexible complex polysaccharides on the basis of NMR data and molecular modeling is described and is applied to a polysaccharide which is a lectin-binding receptor important in coaggregation of oral bacteria. The method involves uniform biosynthetic enrichment of the polysaccharide with 13C which allows accurate measurements of heteronuclear coupling constants from a three-dimensional coupled HMQC-NOESY spectrum. The improved resolution of the 3D spectrum also provides a large number of accurate values of NOE cross peak volumes in a decoupled HMQC-NOESY spectrum. While it was not possible to construct a model for the flexible polysaccharide directly from the NOE data, a model was successfully built from the coupling constant data. Possible values of glycosidic dihedral angles were extracted from the 3JCH data to build models which were evaluated by molecular modeling calculations. A simple average over a linear combination of low-energy conformations was selected which matched the experimental 3JCH data within experimental error. Simulation of the NOE data for this same combination of conformers gave excellent agreement with experimental NOESY data. Molecular dynamics trajectories both with and without coupling constant constraints do not represent the experimental NOE and 3JCH data as well as the linear combination model. While the polysaccharide has some flexibility in the antigenic site, the lectin-binding site, which contains a furanoside with (1-->6)-linkages, provides a more flexible hinge in the polysaccharide.

Carbohydrate Conformation↗

Preparation of vinylated polysaccharides and photofabrication of tubular scaffolds as potential use in tissue engineering.

Polysaccharides, such as heparin, hyaluronan, and chitosan, were partially derivatized with a styryl or a methacryloyl group by condensation at a carboxyl or an amino group of the polysaccharides with 4-vinylaniline or 4-vinylbenzoic acid. The degree of substitution depended on the reaction conditions. These compounds with low degrees of derivatization produced water-swollen hydrogels only at relatively high concentrations (30-40 wt %) in the presence of a carboxylated camphorquinone upon visible light irradiation. A high degree of derivatization of heparin increased the gel yield and concomitantly reduced the degree of swelling. The copolymerization of these vinylated polysaccharides with styrenated gelatin considerably reduced the degree of swelling. Tubular photoconstructs were prepared by photocopolymerization of vinylated polysaccharide and vinylated gelatin. The mixing of diacrylated poly(ethylene glycol) with vinylated polysaccharide improved the burst strength of photogels against the gradual infusion of water. These photocurable polysaccharides may be used as photocured scaffolds in tissue-engineered devices.

Biocompatible Materials↗

Effect of chemical and genetic attachment of polysaccharides to proteins on the production of IgG and IgE.

To investigate the effect of polysaccharide attachment to proteins on the production of IgG and IgE, the genetic attachment of polysaccharide to lysozymes (G49N and R21T) using the yeast expression system (Saccharomyces cerevisiae AH 22) and the Maillard-type polysaccharide attachment to native lysozyme and soybean P34 protein were attempted. The production of IgG and IgE was investigated by using mice immunized with the protein-polysaccharide conjugates or native proteins. The attachment of polysaccharide to lysozyme using the yeast expression system greatly suppressed the production level of IgG and IgE. The attachment of polysaccharide to native lysozyme and soybean P34 protein using the Maillard-type reaction was also found to be effective in reducing the production level of IgE compared to IgG.

Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel↗

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and chemometric analysis of white wine polysaccharide extracts.

Monovarietal white wines from Maria Gomes and Bical Portuguese Bairrada varieties were prepared according to different maceration and pectic enzyme clarification procedures. The polysaccharide-rich extracts, obtained by wine concentration, dialysis, and lyophilization, were fractionated by graded ethanol precipitation. A wide range of fractions rich in polysaccharides were obtained. Using the spectral region between 1200 and 800 cm(-)(1) of the FTIR spectra of the wine polysaccharide dry extracts, using PCA and CCA chemometric methods, it was possible to discriminate the extracts on the basis of their polysaccharide composition. Moreover, it was possible to identify the wine-making processes involved and their influence on the wine polysaccharides. Furthermore, a calibration model using a PLS1 was proposed for the quantification of mannose in the samples obtained by precipitation with 60% ethanol aqueous solutions. This information will allow an expeditious assessment and monitoring of the polysaccharide composition and modifications that occur during the wine-making processing and evolution.

Chemical Fractionation↗

Quantification of uronic acids in tea polysaccharide conjugates and their antioxidant properties.

A technique of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was described for the measurement of total uronic acids in tea polysaccharide conjugates. This method was applied to polysaccharide conjugate extracts obtained from green tea after most of the components that produce interference were removed. The preliminary extraction process was according to the procedure of isolation of polysaccharide conjugates. The uronic acid content of different polysaccharide conjugate fractions was quantified by HPLC on a Sugar-Pak I column with a 1.0 x 10(-)(4) mol x L(-)(1) calcium disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid solution as the mobile phase and refractive index detection. The validation study showed high recoveries (>97.0%) and low coefficients of variance (<3.0%). The minimum detectable limit concentration of uronic acid was 10 microg x mL(-)(1). The analysis of a standard range of galacturonic acid concentrations (100-4000 microg x mL(-)(1)) yielded linear results. The use of the method on different polysaccharide conjugate fraction samples confirmed its effectiveness. With the high content of uronic acids in polysaccharide conjugates, the stronger reactive oxygen species scavenging activities were found.

Antioxidants↗

Polysaccharide-induced order-to-order transitions in lyotropic liquid crystals.

We report on the order-to-order transitions of lyotropic liquid crystals formed by self-assembled monogylcerides and water in the presence of polysaccharides of various molecular weights. The phase diagram of monoglyceride-water-polysaccharide systems, their morphology, and the topology of liquid crystalline structures were determined by combining optical cross-polarization, oscillatory shear rheometry, and small-angle X-ray scattering. The presence of hydrophilic mono-, oligo-, and polysaccharides in the water domains of liquid crystalline phases resulted in a general decrease of the cubic-to-hexagonal transition temperature. Provided that the sugar could fit within the water channels, the decrease was observed to be dependent on the polysaccharide concentration but independent of its molecular weight. For isotropic bicontinuous cubic phases, monomeric sugars such as glucose were reported to shrink the lattice parameter of the structure without inducing phase transitions. However, when a polymeric form of glucose was used, such as dextran, transitions from the gyroidal Ia3d cubic phase to double diamond Pn3m cubic phases were observed at well-defined molecular weights of polysaccharide. These results were interpreted in terms of size exclusions of polymer sugars by the water domains of the liquid crystal phases as well as the different topologies of water channels. Molecular dynamics simulations of polysaccharides in the water environment were performed to support these findings.

Crystallization↗

The structures of polysaccharides and glycolipids of Aspergillus fumigatus grown in the presence of human serum.

A study was made of polysaccharides and glycosphingolipids isolated from Aspergillus fumigatus grown in media supplemented with human serum from healthy donors. Fractionation of Cetavlon-precipitated polysaccharides on Sephacryl S-400 gave rise to an excluded fraction (Fraction I) with molecular weight of > 400 kDa and an included peak (Fraction II) with an average molecular weight of 30-80 kDa. Fraction I comprises about 5% of total polysaccharide and was identified as a glycogen-like molecule. Its structure was deduced from methylation data, treatment with amyloglucosidase, a red-brown coloration produced with an iodine solution and by 1H and 13C-NMR spectroscopy. It was previously suggested that higher amounts of glycogen-like polysaccharide (20%) were present in A. fumigatus grown in serum-free medium. Fraction II was identified as a galactomannan and was the main polysaccharide of A. fumigatus grown in serum-free medium. Fraction II was identified as a galactomannan and was the main 13C-NMR spectroscopy combined with partial acetolysis and methylation analysis. The 13C-NMR spectrum of the galactomannan showed a much greater complexity in the beta-D-gal f and alpha-D-man p C-1 regions, than was evident for galactomannan from serum-free cultures previously described, reflecting differences in the glycosylation pattern, stimulated in serum-supplemented medium. No differences in A. fumigatus glycosphingolipid could be detected between serum-containing and serum-free growth conditions. Our results demonstrate that the change in polysaccharide structure is a more specific response to the altered growth conditions and not merely a symptom of more general changes.

Aspergillus fumigatus↗

Application of statistically based experimental designs for the optimization of exo-polysaccharide production by Cordyceps militaris NG3.

Statistically based experimental designs were applied to the optimization of medium composition for exo-polysaccharide production by Cordyceps militaris NG3 in shake-flask cultures. First, the Plackett-Burman design was used to search for the main factors on mycelia and exo-polysaccharide production. Among these variables, sucrose and corn steep powder were found to be two significant factors and had positive effects on mycelial yield (with confidence level >80%) and exo-polysaccharide production (with confidence level >90%). Subsequently, to study the mutual interactions between variables, the effects of the two main factors on exo-polysaccharide production were further investigated using a central composite design. The optimal composition was found to be 1.03 g/l corn steep powder, 2.95 g/l sucrose, 0.1 g/l K(2)HPO(4), 0.5 g/l MgSO(4) x 5H(2)O and 0.1 g/l KNO(3) for the enhanced production of the exo-polysaccharide, which was 2.604 g/l in shake-flask cultures. Under optimal culture conditions, the maximum exo-polysaccharide concentration in a 5 l stirred-tank bioreactor was 3.8 g/l.

Bioreactors↗

The linkage between the polysaccharide and mucopeptide components of the cell wall of Lactobacillus casei.

1. The linkage between the polysaccharide and mucopeptide components of the cell wall of Lactobacillus casei is rapidly hydrolysed under mild acid-hydrolysis conditions. 2. The release of the polysaccharide is accompanied by the hydrolysis of an N-acetylhexosaminide linkage. The N-acetylhexosamine residue readily forms chromogen and it is concluded that it is substituted on C((3)) by the adjacent sugar. 3. Continued heating of the polysaccharide in acid results in a slower release of reactive N-acetylhexosamine due to the hydrolysis of glycosidic linkages within the polysaccharide. 4. After the linkage between the polysaccharide and mucopeptide has been hydrolysed, acid phosphatase will release approx. 40% of the total phosphorus as inorganic phosphate. 5. It is concluded that the polysaccharide component of the cell wall is joined through its reducing end group to a phosphate grouping in the mucopeptide.

Acid Phosphatase↗