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A fucomannogalactan from Rhizoctonia solani biomass was obtained after hot aqueous extraction and purified by freeze-thaw cycles and gel filtration chromatography on Sepharose CL-6B. The polysaccharide was homogeneous after HPSEC/RID analysis (Mw/Mn~1.1), displaying an average molecular weight of 15.4×103Da. Its chemical structure was determined by methylation analysis (GC/MS) and spectroscopy (FTIR, 1D and 2D NMR). The polysaccharide had a branched α-1,6-linked Galp backbone with 66% linear residues, a number of which were at O-3 methylated. Side chains (34%) were always linked at O-2 positions of the main chain and consisted of single, non-reducing ends of α-d-Manp (6%) and α-l-Fucp (28%). Analysis of its biological activity showed that the highly purified fucomannogalactan from R. solani inhibited the proliferation of colon cancer cells in vitro, but that it did not have the same activity against lung cancer cells.

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Bacterial cellulose membrane is a biomaterial with high value in the biomedical field. Many groups have been making efforts to promote chemical modifications of its structure and, consequently, add new characteristics. Recently, our group has developed a methodology to insert monoester succinic acid in bacterial cellulose membrane without disrupting the microfibril network and bind a protein on it. Considering the role of carbohydrates in the molecular recognition process in biological events, we continued these studies by inserting covalently multiples copies of aryl monosaccharide to bacterial cellulose succinylated and to study the in vitro tissue compatibility using fibroblasts. The mix of synthetical chemistry and material modification was performed to prepare aminoaryl mannoside and conjugate it, via amide bond using ultrasonic irradiation, to succinic group of bacterial cellulose. This material was characterized chemically (IR, UV-vis, 13C NMR CP-MAS) and physically (TGA and AFM). Mannosylated cellulose showed good in vitro compatibility with fibroblasts demonstrating its potential in the tissue engineering field which could provide a tissue compatible scaffold.

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Synthetic 3-alkylpyridine marine alkaloid (3-APA) analogues have shown good antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum. However, despite their structural originality, their molecular target was unknown. Herein, we report a proposal for the antimalarial mechanism of action of 3-APA analogues through interference with the process of hemozoin (Hz) formation. The interaction between 3-APA analogues and heme groups was investigated employing an in silico approach and biophysical techniques such as ultraviolet-visible light (UV-vis) titration and electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The in silico approach was performed based on pure ab initio electronic structure methods in order to obtain insights at the molecular level concerning the binding process of antimalarial drugs at their target site, the heme group. In silico results showed that the formation of heme:3-APA complexes at a molecular ratio of 2:1 are more stable than 1:1 complexes. These results were further confirmed by experimental techniques, such as UV-vis and high-resolution mass spectrometry (ESI-TOF), for two of the most active 3-APA analogues.

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Citrus canker is a very destructive disease of citrus species. The challenge is to find new compounds that show strong antibiotic activity and low toxicity to plants and the environment. The objectives of the present study were (1) to extract, purify and evaluate the secondary metabolites with antibiotic activity produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa LV strain in vitro against Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (strain 306), (2) to determine the potential of semi-purified secondary metabolites in foliar application to control citrus canker under greenhouse conditions, and (3) to identify antibiotic activity in orange leaf mesophyll infected with strain 306, by electron microscopy. Two pure bioactive compounds were isolated, an organocopper antibiotic compound (OAC) and phenazine-1-carboxamide. Phenazine-1-carboxamide did not show any antibiotic activity under the experimental conditions used in this study. The OAC showed a high level of antibiotic activity with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.12 µg mL(-1). In greenhouse tests for control of citrus canker in orange trees, the semi-purified fraction F3d reduced lesion formation by about 97%. The concentration used was 500 times lower than that for the recommended commercial copper-based product. Electron microscopy showed that F3d altered the exopolysaccharide matrix and caused cell lysis of the pathogen inside the citrus canker lesions. These results suggest that secondary metabolites produced by inducing P. aeruginosa LV strain have a high potential to be used as a bioproduct to control citrus canker.

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Polysaccharides (GNF) from Acacia mearnsii de Wild gum exudates, collected from trees growing in the south of Brazil, were characterized ((13)C and HSQC NMR, GC-MS, colorimetric assays). A commercial gum arabic (GAC) was analyzed similarly and compared with GNF. There were differences, consistent with distinct behavior in tensiometry tests and as emulsion stabilizer. GNF had a higher protein content than GAC, with small differences in the monosaccharide composition, the greater one being the lower uronic acid content of GNF (4%), compared with GAC (17%). GNF had a much broader molecular mass distribution, M(w)/M(n), and a lower M(w). GNF was more efficient in lowering the surface tension of water and saline solutions and was more efficient in emulsifying castor oil droplets. Results were discussed taking into account structural and molecular differences between the studied gums. It was concluded that polysaccharides from A. mearnsii de Wild are candidates as substitutes of currently commercialized arabic gums (Acacia senegal and Acacia seyal) having, depending on their application, improved properties.

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A new triterpene 3,15-dioxo-21alpha-hydroxy friedelane has been isolated from methanol extract of Maytenus robusta and its structure elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis. Stigmasterol, friedelin, friedelanol and 3,15-dioxo friedelane were also obtained. 3,15-dioxo-21alpha-hydroxy friedelane was analyzed against the writhing test in mice and exhibited potent dose-dependent effects with an ID50 value of 12.5 +/- 2.1 micromol kg(-1) and a maximal inhibition of 85.90%. It was about 10-fold more active than aspirin and paracetamol, used as reference drugs.

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Carbohydrates containing galactopyranosyl and mannopyranosyl units with vicinal cis-diols were treated with NaVO(3) in D(2)O, and complexation was determined by (51)V NMR spectroscopy. Me alpha-Galp, Me beta-Galp (3,4-cis-diols), and Me alpha-Manp (2,3-cis-diol) complexed, but Me beta-Manp barely did so. This low degree of complexation also occurred with a beta-mannan containing alternate (1-->3)- and (1-->4)-linkages and an alginate having beta-ManpA blocks. In contrast, branched alpha-mannans complexed readily, although the (51)V resonances for one with side chains terminated with alpha-Manp-(1-->3)-alpha-Manp-(1--> differed from another with only alpha-Manp-(1-->2)-alpha-Manp-(1--> groups. The anomeric configuration of Me alpha-Galp and Me beta-Galp, each with 3,4-cis-diols remote from C-1, gave rise to three (51)V signals of complexes with similar shifts and proportions. The shifts of a galactomannan with terminal alpha-Galp-(1-->2)-alpha-Manp- were the same as those with alpha-Galp-(1-->6)-beta-Manp- groups, but fewer complexes were formed with the former structure, probably due to greater steric crowding of the vanadate esters. Most of the complexes gave rise to a signal in the delta515 region, consistent with the dimeric trigonal-bipyramidal structure.

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The hydroxyl group stereochemistry of complexation of sodium vanadate(V) with Me alpha-Manp, Me alpha- and beta-Galp and selected O-methyl derivatives in D(2)O was determined by 51V, 1D and 2D 13C NMR spectroscopy at pD 7.8. The 51V approach served to show the extent of complexation and the minimum number of esters formed. That of Me alpha-Manp gave rise mainly to a 51V signal at delta -515, identical with that of its 4,6-di-O-methyl derivative, which had only a 2,3-cis-diol exposed. The 13C NMR spectra contained much weaker signals of the complexes, but both glycosides showed strong C-2 and C-3 alpha-shifts of +17.3 and +10.8 ppm, respectively. As expected, Me 2,3-Me(2)-alpha-Manp, which contains a 4,6-diol, did not complex. Me Galp anomers and their derivatives showed more diversity in the structure of its oxyvanadium derivatives. Me alpha-Galp, with its 3,4-cis-diol, complexed to give rise to 51V signals at delta -495 (9%), -508 (10%), and -534 (4%). These shifts and proportions were maintained with Me beta-Galp and Me 6Me-alpha-Galp. 51V NMR spectroscopy showed that Me 3Me-beta-Galp, with its possibly available 4,6-diol, did not complex. Similarly, Me alpha-Galp+vanadate gave a 13C DEPT spectrum that did not contain an inverted signal at delta >71.4, as would be expected of a C-6 resonance suffering a strong downfield alpha-shift. Me 2,6-Me(2)-alpha-Galp, with a 3,4-cis-diol group, gave rise to two 51V signals of complexes at delta -492 (9%) and -508 (9%), showing more than one structure of oxyvanadium derivatives.

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The partially 3-O-methylated mannogalactans were isolated from the fruiting bodies of edible basidiomycetes Pleurotus ostreatus 'florida' Berk. and Pleurotus ostreatoroseus Sing. They were obtained via successive aqueous extraction, freeze thawing, and precipitation with Fehling solution and then investigated using (13)C- and (1)H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (including COSY, TOCSY and HMQC techniques), methylation analysis and Smith degradation. The main chain consisted of (1-->6)-linked alpha-D-galactopyranosyl residues containing 3-O-Me-alpha-D-galactopyranoses, a part of these units being substituted in the position O-2 with beta-D-mannopyranose residues. The heteropolysaccharides found were similar with differences only in the levels of the 3-O-Me-alpha-D-galactopyranoses residues. The presence of partially 3-O-methylated mannogalactan appears to be typical of Pleurotus spp.

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The cultured photobiont Trebouxia sp. of Ramalina celastri was successively extracted at 100 degrees C with hot water, 2% aqueous KOH, and 10% aqueous KOH to give polysaccharide-containing fractions A (2.9%), B (3.9%), and C (0.9% yield) respectively. The intact biont contained 3.8% amylose, which was present in each fraction, and was identified by a blue color formed with iodine solution. In fraction A, and following retrogradation from aqueous solution, it was characterized by (13)C-NMR spectroscopy. Fraction B was treated with alpha-amylase to give a water-soluble fraction consisting mainly of beta-mannose-containing polysaccharides (1.5% yield), whose main component had dn/dc 0.162 and M(r) 17 kDa. Fraction C was subjected to freeze-thawing and the precipitate was treated with alpha-amylase to give a resistant, linear, low molecular mass (1-->4)-linked beta-xylan. The beta-D-mannopyranan preparation contained mainly of 3-O- (28%), 4-O- (11%), and 6-O-substituted Manp units (35%), with 3-O-substituted Rhap units (11%). A controlled Smith degradation provided a beta-mannan with nonreducing end- (8%), 3-O- (85%) and 6-O-substituted units, showing (1-->3)- and (1-->6)-linked structures in the original polysaccharide. These could be present as block-type structures.

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Methylation and 13C NMR analyses were carried out on the high-arabinose, acidic heteropolysaccharide of gum ghatti and the products obtained on three successive, controlled Smith degradations. The side chains contained mainly 2-O- and 3-O-substituted Araf units. Of these the second degradation eliminated remaining alpha-Araf units, and their beta anomers became evident. The proportion of Galp units gradually increased in the form of nonreducing end- and Galp units, although 3,6-di-O- and 3,4,6-tri-O-substituted Galp units diminished. After three degradations groups with consecutive 3-O-substituted beta-Galp units were formed. The proportion of periodate-resistant 3-O- and 2,3-di-O-substituted Manp units was maintained. As a guide to side-chain structures in the polysaccharide, seven of the 10 free reducing oligosaccharide fractions (PC) present in the gum were isolated and examined (NMR, ESIMS, and sometimes methylation analysis). Characterized are alpha-Araf-(1 --> 2)-Ara and three Ara-containing oligosaccharide fractions containing 2-O- and 3-O-substituted units. These gave respectively, ESIMS molecular ions arising from Ara(2), beta-Araf oligosaccharides with four units, beta-Araf oligosaccharides with seven units, and Hex(2)-Ara(4). Alpha-Rhap-(1 --> 4)-GlcA, alpha-Rhap-(1 --> 4)-beta-GlcpA-(1 --> 6)-Gal, and alpha-Rhap-(1 --> 4)-beta-GlcpA-(1 --> 6)-beta-Galp-(1 --> 6)-Gal represented other side chains.

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The polysaccharide obtained by ethanol precipitation from an aqueous solution of gum tragacanth contained arabinogalactan and tragacanthic acid, as well as starch ( approximately 0.6%). GC-MS, NMR, and ESI-MS analyses showed the structure of the arabinogalactan to be even more complex than previously determined, with core structures containing Arap, beta-Araf, and alpha-Galp units, as well as known terminal, and 2-O- and 3-O-substituted alpha-Araf units. Analysis was aided by examination of free, reducing oligosaccharides present in the gum. In addition to maltose, maltotriose, maltotetraose, and maltopentaose, the following were characterized: mixed alpha-Araf (1-->2)-alpha-Araf-(1-->4)-Ara and alpha-Araf-(1-->2)-alpha-Araf-(1-->5)-Ara, which correspond to the side chains of the arabinogalactan, beta-Galp-(1-->4)-beta-Galp-(1-->4)-beta-Galp-(1-->4)-Gal; and a mixture of beta-Galp-(1-->4)-beta-Galp-(1-->4)-Gal and beta-Glcp-(1-->4)-beta-Galp-(1-->4)-beta-Galp-(1-->4)-Gal, which did not resemble side-chain structures of the arabinogalactan. The latter are suggested to be related to tragacanthic acid, which has been previously found to contain beta-Galp nonreducing end-units.

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Magnaporthe grisea is a fungal pathogen that infects rice leaves and causes rice blast, a devastating crop disease. M. grisea produces active elicitors of the hypersensitive response in rice that were previously identified as ceramide monohexosides (CMHs). Using several chromatographic approaches, mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance, we identified ceramide mono- and dihexosides (CDH) in purified lipid extracts from M. grisea cells. As described by other authors, CMH consists of a ceramide moiety containing 9-methyl-4,8-sphingadienine in amidic linkage to 2-hydroxyoctadecenoic or 2-hydroxyhexadecenoic acids and a carbohydrate segment consisting of one residue of glucose. CDHs, however, contain beta-galactose (1-->4)-linked to beta-glucose as sugar units and phytosphingosine as the long-chain base, bound to a C24 alpha-hydroxylated fatty acid. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the occurrence of CDH in a fungal species and illustrates the existence of an alternative path of ceramide glycosylation in fungal cells.

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The two main water-soluble extracellular polysaccharides produced by the basidiomycete fungus Pleurotus ostreatoroseus Sing were isolated and purified. They were characterized using 13C, 1H, and 1H, 13C HMQC NMR spectroscopy, methylation analysis, and Smith degradation. One was a mannan having a main chain of (1-->6)-linked alpha-D-mannopyranosyl residues, almost all of which were branched at O-2 with side chains of different lengths, containing 2-O- and 3-O-linked mannopyranosyl units. The other was a partially 3-O-methylated (1-->4)-linked alpha-D-galactopyranan, a structure that has not been previously described.

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The polysaccharides formed on hot alkaline extraction of the ascomycetous lichen Teloschistes flavicans were fractionated to give two glucans, which were characterised by methylation analysis and 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. One was a branched beta-glucan containing (1-->3) and (1-->6) linkages, a structure which is more typical of basidiomycetes rather than ascomycetes, which have linear glucans. The other was an alpha-glucan with alternating (1-->4) and (1-->6) linkages, found for the first time in Nature. This structure can be classified as a pullulan, which has been isolated from the fungi Aureobasidium pullulans, Tremella mesenterica, and Cyttaria harioti, but has different ratios of the component glycosidic linkages. The significance of the presence of the isolated alpha- and beta-glucans is discussed.

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