This report describes a method for the solubilization of a micro-particulate β-D-glucan. Insoluble glucan is dissolved in methyl sulfoxide and urea (8m) and partially phiosphorylated at 100°. The resulting water-soluble product is called glucan phosphate. The conversion rate is 70%, and the preparation is endotoxin free as determined by the Limulus lysate procedure. Glucan phosphate is composed of 34.66% C, 6.29% H, 42.83% O, and 2.23% P and has a repeating-unit empirical formula of (C6H10O5)7·PO3H2, indicating a phosphate group substitution on every seventh glucose subunit. Molecular-weight averages, polydispersity, and intrinsic viscosity were determined by aqueous high-performance size-exclusion chromatography (s.e.c.) with on-line, multi-angle laser light scattering (m.a.1.1.s) photometry and differential viscometry (d.v.). Two polymer peaks were resolved. Peak 1 (Mw = 3570000 daltons), represents ~2% of the total polymers, while peak 2 (Mw = 110000 daltons) comprises ~98% of polymers. 13C- and 31P-n.m.r. spectroscopy confirmed the β-1,3 interchain linkage and the presence of a phosphate group. In solution, glucan phosphate polymers self-associate in a triple-helical arrangement. The ability to prepare a immunologically active, non-toxic, water-soluble β-D-glucan preparation will greatly enhance the clinical utility of this class of compounds.

phosphate, glucan, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, solubilization

13C NMR data:
Linkage	Residue	C1	C2	C3	C4	C5	C6
	bDGlcp	103.01	72.83	86.22	68.41	76.33	60.87


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]1O

162.141 g/mol (C₆H₁₀R₂O₅, R = next and previous repeats, not counted in mol weight)