Composition and Structure of Galactomannan from the Seed of Gleditsia ferox Desf

• Published in: Applied biochemistry and microbiology Vol. 40; no. 3; pp. 314 - 318
• Main Authors: Egorov, A V, Mestechkina, N M, Shcherbukhin, V D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Nature B.V 01.05.2004
• Subjects: Aqueous solutions; Gleditsia
• ISSN: 0003-6838; 1608-3024
• DOI: 10.1023/B:ABIM.0000025959.89870.c7

Galactomannan, a heteropolysaccharide with a molecular weight of 1660 kDa, was isolated from the seed of Gleditsia ferox Desf., introduced in Russia, with a yield of 18.9%. Its aqueous solutions were optically active ([α]^sub D^ = +30.5°) and highly viscous ([η] = 1430 ml/g). An analysis of the heteropolysaccharide using chemical, enzymatic, and chromatographic procedures showed that it consists of D-mannopyranose and D-galactopyranose residues (molar ratio, 2.54 : 1). The main chain of this galactomannan consists of 1,4-β-D-mannopyranose residues, 39.2% of which are substituted at C6 with single residues of α-D-galactopyranose. The probability of occurrence of mannobiose units differentially substituted with galactose was determined by ^sup 13^C-NMR data and equaled, respectively, 0.37, 0.47, and 0.16 for non-substituted Man-Man units, monosubstituted Gal(Man-Man) and (Man-Man)Gal units taken together, and for the disubstituted Gal(Man-Man)Gal units.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]