The molecular structures of a glucan and a galactan synthesised by prototheca zopfii

When the unicellular organism Prototheca zopfii was grown on a malt-agar medium, a mixture of polysaccharides was synthesised which could be subsequently extracted from the dried cells with hot water and hot alkali. The major polysaccharide was a galactan which had a branched structure with main chains of (1?6)-linked D-galactopyranose residues, and ˜ 10% of side chains containing terminal D-galacto-furanose residues. A glycogen-type polysaccharide and a (1?4)-linked mannan were also produced. © 1973.