Structural studies on the oligomers from the polysaccharide ofGracilaria textorii (Rhodophyta) using β-agarase and13C-NMR spectroscopy

The 60% ethanolic extract fromGracilaria textorii (Rhodophyta) was degraded with β-agarase, and certain charged (sulfated) and neutral oligosaccharides were separated by using DEAE Sephadex A25 and Bio- gel P6, P2 chromatographic techniques. Some of the charged oligomers were verified to be neoagarotetraose-6³-sulfate (DP2), neoagarohexaose-6³, 6⁵-disulfate (DP3) and neoagarooctaose-6³, 6⁵, 6⁷-trisulfate (DP4) by using¹³C- and¹H-NMR spectroscopy. One neutral oligomer was assumed to be a mixture of methylated neoagarotetraoses (DP2) by¹H-NMR spectroscopy. These oligomers assigned by their chemical shifts may be used as the model compounds for the structural investigation of the agar-type sulfated polysaccharides using the β-agarase degradation method. Contribution No. 1749 from the Institute of Oceanology, Academia Sinica.