Development of natural product (1 → 3)-β-D-glucan polymers as immune-stimulating pharmaceuticals

Glucan phosphate is a water-soluble, yeast-derived, (1 → 3)-β-D-glucopyranose polymer that has been demonstrated to be a potent immune stimulant. Glucan phosphate administration is associated with stimulation of immunity and a concomitant increase in resistance to a variety of experimentally induced disease states. Preclinical safety evaluation indicates that glucan phosphate does not induce mortality or significant toxicity over a wide dose range. Phase I clinical data indicate that glucan phosphate will ameliorate immunosuppression, stimulate immunity, decrease susceptibility to infection and alter ultimate outcome in trauma patients following laparotomy or thoracotomy. This work reviews the development, characterization, preclinal and clinical evaluation of glucan phosphate.     

Modification of surface properties of oral streptococci by α-1,6 glucans

Several members of the genus Streptococcus, including S. sobrinus, S. cricetus, S. sanguis and S. mutans, are known to produce proteins capable of complexing with α-1,6 glucans. Of all the oral streptococcal groups, S. sobrinus and S. cricetus are the most readily aggregated by high molecular weight glucan (glucan T-2000), but the aggregation may be inhibited by low molecular weight glucans (glucan T-10). Some of the oral streptococci are also known to express surface hydrophobins, molecules which impart hydrophobic characteristics to their cell surfaces. When glucan T-10 was added to suspensions of S. cricetus or S. sobrinus, the bacteria were less able to adhere to hexadecane, to bind to plastics or to be aggregated by ammonium sulfate. It is concluded that the glucan rendered the bacteria more hydrophilic. In contrast, streptococci such as S. sanguis and S. mutans, incapable of aggregation by high molecular weight α-1,6 glucan, retained their hydrophobic characteristics in the presence of glucan T-10. Other bacteria, such as Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, exhibited their same abilities to bind to hexadecane, to adhere to plastics or to be aggregated by ammonium sulfate, regardless of the presence of α-1,6 glucan. When S. cricetus or S. sobrinus were grown under conditions to minimize expression of glucan-binding lectin or when glucan-binding lectin was denatured, glucan T-10 had no effect on their hydrophobic characteristics. It appears that the complexing of α-1,6 glucan by streptococci bearing glucan-binding lectin causes the bacteria to assume a more hydrophilic character.     

Vibrational spectroscopic characterization of wild growing mushrooms and toadstools

Recently, there has been increase of general interest in fungi because of the possible medical applications of their polysaccharide constituents called glucans, some of which are reported to have immunomodulatory properties. Since an extraction method can change the chemical composition of a substance, especially a delicate one such as fungal thallus, it is necessary and useful to know more about the studied matter in advance in order to choose the chemical procedure properly. We demonstrated the usefulness of vibrational spectroscopy in identifying different glucan types in various parts of intact fruiting bodies of Asco- and Basidiomycetes. Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy was used for obtaining vibrational spectra of spores and fruiting bodies of more than 70 species belonging to 37 different genera of wild growing mushrooms. The list of the bands in 750-950 cm(-1) interval, assigned to alpha- and beta-glucans, is provided for all species studied. Vibrational spectra in the interval 1000-1200 cm(-1) could serve as an indicator of mushroom genus, although particular species cannot be identified spectroscopically. Great similarities in spectra of spores of the same genus, but different species, e.g. Tricholoma album and Trichloma sulphureum, were observed. On the other hand, spectra of cap, stalk and spores of the same mushroom show great differences, indicating variety in the chemical composition of different parts of the same fruiting body.     

Potential of Agricultural Residues and Hay for Bioethanol Production

Production of bioethanol from agricultural residues and hays (wheat, barley, and triticale straws, and barley, triticale, pearl millet, and sweet sorghum hays) through a series of chemical pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, and fermentation processes was investigated in this study. Composition analysis suggested that the agricultural straws and hays studied contained approximately 28.62-38.58% glucan, 11.19-20.78% xylan, and 22.01-27.57% lignin, making them good candidates for bioethanol production. Chemical pretreatment with sulfuric acid or sodium hydroxide at concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0% indicated that concentration and treatment agent play a significant role during pretreatment. After 2.0% sulfuric acid pretreatment at 121 degrees C/15 psi for 60 min, 78.10-81.27% of the xylan in untreated feedstocks was solubilized, while 75.09-84.52% of the lignin was reduced after 2.0% sodium hydroxide pretreatment under similar conditions. Enzymatic hydrolysis of chemically pretreated (2.0% NaOH or H2SO4) solids with Celluclast 1.5 L-Novozym 188 (cellobiase) enzyme combination resulted in equal or higher glucan and xylan conversion than with Spezyme(R) CP- xylanase combination. The glucan and xylan conversions during hydrolysis with Celluclast 1.5 L-cellobiase at 40 FPU/g glucan were 78.09 to 100.36% and 74.03 to 84.89%, respectively. Increasing the enzyme loading from 40 to 60 FPU/g glucan did not significantly increase sugar yield. The ethanol yield after fermentation of the hydrolyzate from different feedstocks with Saccharomyces cerevisiae ranged from 0.27 to 0.34 g/g glucose or 52.00-65.82% of the theoretical maximum ethanol yield.     

Inhibitory effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae extract obtained through ultrasound-assisted extraction on melanoma cells

Although the immune enhancing effect of yeast has been widely reported, studies specifically investigating its effects on skin cancer are lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a yeast extract capable of inhibiting melanoma cells using ultrasound technology, which can lyse the cell walls allowing subsequent rapid yeast extraction. To compare the extraction efficiency across different extraction methods, the total yield, as well as total glucan, α-glucan, and β-glucan yields were measured. Ultrasound-assisted extract of yeast (UAEY) was found to effectively inhibit melanoma cell growth and proliferation as well as the expression of cyclin D1 and c-myc, in vitro. Additionally, the extract reduced melanoma tumor volume and cyclin D1 levels in BALB/c nu/nu mice. The optimal extraction conditions were 0.2 M NaOH, 3 h, 70 °C, 20 kHz, and 800 W, resulting in an increased total extraction and β-glucan yields of 73.6% and 7.1%, respectively, compared with that achieved using a conventional chemical (0.5 M NaOH) extraction method. Taken together, the results of this study suggest that UAEY may represent an effective anti-skin cancer agent.     

核盘菌多糖的构象及其构象变化的研究

研究了一种由Ｓｃｌｅｒｏｔｉｎｉａｓｃｌｅｒｏｔｉｏｒｕｍｓｓ－００１产生的具有潜在抗肿瘤活性的微生物胞外多糖──核盘菌多糖的溶液行为及构象变化．通过对其在不同离子强度和不同ｐＨ值下［η］值的考察，发现其在不同离子强度下和一定的ｐＨ范围内溶液行为稳定．但当ｐＨ＞１２．３６时其［η］值急剧变小．利用透射电镜对样品在不同条件下分子形貌的研究表明，这种溶液行为的变化是由分子构象的变化产生的     

以葡聚糖为模板控制合成文石型碳酸钙

依据生物矿化的基本原理,在动态条件下以葡聚糖为模板,采用仿生的方法控制合成了具有独特形貌并含有少量葡聚糖的碳酸钙复合材料.用X射线粉末衍射(XRD)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、傅里叶变换红外吸收光谱(FTIR)和电导率测定等手段对所得的复合碳酸钙进行了形貌与结构表征.结果表明,所得CaCO₃为文石晶型,外貌类似菜叶.进一步的研究发现,在CaCO₃结晶过程中葡聚糖与CaCO₃之间存在超分子相互作用,并讨论了这种作用的可能机理.