STRUCTURAL STUDIES OF ARABINAN-RICH PECTIC POLYSACCHARIDES FROM ABIES SIBIRICA L. BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF PECTINS OF A. SIBIRICA

E.G. Shakhmatova, Ph.V. Toukachb, E.A. Michailowac, E.N. Makarovaa

aInstitute of Chemistry, Komi Science Centre, The Urals Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Syktyvkar, Russia
bN. D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
c Institute of Physiology, Komi Science Centre, The Urals Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Syktyvkar, Russia

KEYWORDS: Abies sibirica; Pectin; Arabinan; Wood greenery; NMR spectroscopy; β-l-Araf

Carbohydrate Polymers, 2014, v. 113, pp. 515-524

DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2014.07.037


Highly branched arabinan-rich pectic polysaccharides, containing 84% of arabinose, was extracted from wood greenery of Abies sibirica L. The structure of arabinan was studied by the 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. The macromolecule backbone was represented mainly by RG-I (molar ratio GalA:Rha ~ 1.3:1) patterns with high degree of rhamnose branching. Side chains were comprised of 1,5-linked α-L-Araf residues (the major part of polymer mass), 1,3,5-di-O- and 1,2,3,5-tri-O-linked α-L-Araf residues, confirming the presence of highly branched 1,5-α-L-arabinan. Although most L-Araf were in α-anomeric form, minor terminal β-L-Araf-(1-... was detected. 1,4-β-D-linked Galp residues found in the side chains account for minor AG-I or 1,4-galactan, as compared to arabinan. A tentative structure was proposed.

Polysaccharides obtained from Siberian fir greenery were screened for biological activity. Galacturonan had a strongest stimulating effect on germination and growth rate of seeds, germs and roots of Triticum aestivum, Avena sativa, and Secale cereale.


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