The large molecular weight and poor water solubility of β-1,3-glucan impede its potential applications. In this study, the β-1,3-glucan producing fungi and Trichoderma harzianum capable of secreting endo-β-1,3-glucanase were co-cultivated to produce branched β-1,3-glucan oligosaccharides (bOβGs) by fermentation with Sclerotium rolfsii and Schizophyllum commune. The highest bOβG yields from S. rolfsii in flasks were 4.53 and 9.94 g/L in a 7 L fermenter. Structural analysis proved that bOβG from S. rolfsii had a narrow degree of polymerization of 5-12, whereas bOβG from S. commune had a degree of polymerization of 5-15. Antioxidant tests showed that both bOβGs had remarkable DPPH radical scavenging activity and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, and the activity of bOβG from S. commune was better than that of bOβG from S. rolfsii. In addition, bOβGs could promote the secretion of NO by mouse macrophages and increase the production of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in RAW264.7.

Antioxidant activity, fungi, Schizophyllum commune, Trichoderma harzianum, co-cultivation, branched β-1, 3-glucan oligosaccharide

There is only one chemically distinct structure:

SVGMWSMILES3D molIonize

 

[*]O[C@@H]1[C@@H](O)[C@H]([*])O[C@H](CO[C@@H]2O[C@H](CO)[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@H]2O)[C@H]1O

324.282 g/mol (C₁₂H₂₀R₂O₁₀, R = next and previous repeats, not counted in mol weight)

Sporothrix schenckii, Sporothrix brasiliensis, and Sporothrix globosa are the main causative agents of sporotrichosis, a human subcutaneous mycosis. Differences in virulence patterns are associated with each species but remain largely uncharacterized. The S. schenckii and S. brasiliensis cell wall composition and virulence are influenced by the culturing media, with little or no influence on S. globosa. By keeping constant the culturing media, we compared the cell wall composition of three S. schenckii and two S. brasiliensis strains, previously described as presenting different virulence levels on a murine model of infection. The cell wall composition of the five Sporothrix spp. strains correlated with the biochemical composition of the cell wall previously reported for the species. However, the rhamnose-to-β-glucan ratio exhibits differences among strains, with an increase in cell wall rhamnose-to-β-glucan ratio as their virulence increased. This relationship can be expressed mathematically, which could be an important tool for the determination of virulence in Sporothrix spp. Also, structural differences in rhamnomannan were found, with longer side chains present in strains with lower virulence reported for both species here studied, adding insight to the importance of this polysaccharide in the pathogenic process of these fungi.

rhamnose, rhamnomannan, fungal cell wall, fungal virulence, beta-gucan, Sporothrix spp.

There is only one chemically distinct structure:

SVGMWSMILES3D molIonize

 

[*]O[C@@H]1[C@@H](O)[C@H]([*])O[C@H](CO[C@@H]2O[C@H](CO)[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@H]2O)[C@H]1O

324.282 g/mol (C₁₂H₂₀R₂O₁₀, R = next and previous repeats, not counted in mol weight)

Polysaccharide components in hot-water extract of Ganoderma lucidum fruiting bodies were separated and their molecular weights and distribution profiles were measured using high-performance size-exclusion chromatography with multi-angle laser light scattering detection (HPSEC-MALLS). Three polysaccharide groups were found in the extract with a weight percentage of 31, 46 and 23%, respectively. The weight-average molecular weights of these groups were 2.08 x 10(6), 2.3 x 10(4) and 1.2 x 10(4) g/mol, respectively. The representative fractions of these 3 groups were obtained using differential precipitation with ethanol at 20, 60 and 80% (v/v) concentrations for further property study. The first group that had the largest molecular size was branched (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan with single beta-D-glucosyl side chains at the O-6 positions, as revealed from sugar composition analysis, aniline blue assay and H-1- and C-13-NMR spectroscopy. (1-->3, 1-->6)-beta-D-glucan was the major active polysaccharide and showed significant tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) releasing stimulation activity from human mononuclear cells (MNC). The glucan was slightly soluble in water at ambient temperature. The second and third groups that showed slight modulating activity consisted of D-glucose, D-galactose and D-mannose at different ratios. Aggregation of polysaccharide molecules was also revealed by HPSEC-MALLS study.

polysaccharides, size-exclusion chromatography, Ganoderma lucidum, (1-3, 1-6)-beta-D-glucans, multi-angle laser light scattering, immuno-modulating activity

13C NMR data:
Linkage	Residue	C1	C2	C3	C4	C5	C6
6	bDGlcp
	bDGlcp	103.0	73.0	85.8	68.7	75.0	68.7


1H NMR data:
missing...

There is only one chemically distinct structure:

SVGMWSMILES3D molIonize

 

[*]O[C@@H]1[C@@H](O)[C@H]([*])O[C@H](CO[C@@H]2O[C@H](CO)[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@H]2O)[C@H]1O

324.282 g/mol (C₁₂H₂₀R₂O₁₀, R = next and previous repeats, not counted in mol weight)

Botryosphaeran, a (1→3)(1→6)-β-D-glucan, presents several beneficial activities, such as antiproliferative, hypoglycemic and antitumoural activities. This study evaluated the effects of botryosphaeran on oxidative stress, inflammation and metabolic activities in Walker-256 tumour-bearing non-obese and obese rats. Wistars rats were divided into four groups: control tumour (CT); control tumour + botryosphaeran (CTB); obese tumour (OT), and obese tumour + botryosphaeran (OTB). In ninth week, obese and non-obese rats were inoculated with 1 × 107 Walker-256 tumour cells and treated with botryosphaeran (30 mg/kg/d for 15 days). In 11th week, the following parameters were evaluated glycogen, glucose and lactate levels, pro-oxidant (TBARS) and antioxidant markers (superoxide dismutase [SOD]; catalase [CAT]; glutathione-S-transferase [GST]; reduced glutathione [GSH]; vitamin C) and cytokines. Obesity presented oxidative stress and inflammation, as demonstrated by high levels of TBARS, SOD and TNF-α, and lower levels of CAT, GSH and interleukin-10 (IL-10). Botryosphaeran significantly decreased TBARS and TNF-α and increased GST, GSH, vitamin C and IL-10 in the liver; increased SOD and vitamin C in tumour tissue; decreased TBARS in adipose tissue, and notably decreased the levels of glycogen and lactate in the tumour of CTB rats. Botryosphaeran promoted significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and beneficial metabolic effects in Walker-256 tumour-bearing non-obese and obese rats, which contributed to its antitumour activity.

cancer, β-Glucans, Botryosphaeria rhodina MAMB-05, obesity, oxidative damage

There is only one chemically distinct structure:

SVGMWSMILES3D molIonize

 

[*]O[C@@H]1[C@@H](O)[C@H]([*])O[C@H](CO[C@@H]2O[C@H](CO)[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@H]2O)[C@H]1O

324.282 g/mol (C₁₂H₂₀R₂O₁₀, R = next and previous repeats, not counted in mol weight)