ABSTRACT
Many species of microalgae produce a relatively diverse range of metabolites that are interesting for biotechnological applications, and among them exopolysaccharides attract attention due to their structural complexity, biological activities, biodegradability or biocompatibility. An exopolysaccharide of high molecular weight (Mp) of 6.8 × 105 g/mol was obtained by cultivation of the freshwater green coccal microalga Gloeocystis vesiculosa Nägeli 1849 (Chlorophyta). Chemical analyses revealed a dominance of Manp (63.4 wt%), Xylp and its 3-O-Me-derivative (22.4 wt%), and Glcp (11.5 wt%) residues. The results of the chemical and NMR analyses showed an alternating branched 1,2- and 1,3-linked α-D-Manp backbone terminated by a single ß-D-Xylp and its 3-O-methyl derivative at O2 of the 1,3-linked α-D-Manp residues. The α-D-Glcp residues were found mainly as 1,4-linked and to a lesser extent as the terminal sugar, indicating partial contamination of ß-D-xylo-α-D-mannan with amylose (â¼10 wt%) in G. vesiculosa exopolysaccharide.
Subject(s)
Mannans , Microalgae , Carbohydrate Sequence , Biopolymers , Molecular Weight , Polysaccharides/chemistryABSTRACT
Cylindrospermopsin (CYN) is a toxic secondary metabolite produced by several freshwater species of cyanobacteria. Its high chemical stability and wide biological activity pose a series of threats for human and animal morbidity and mortality. The biggest risk of CYN exposure for human organism comes from the consumption of contaminated water, fish or seafood. Very important for effective monitoring of the occurrence of CYN in aquatic environment is accurate identification of cyanobacteria species, that are potentially able to synthesize CYN. In this review we collect data about the discovery of CYN production in cyanobacteria and present the morphological changes between all its producers. Additionally we set together the results describing the catalytic decomposition of CYN.