Structural Analysis on β-d-Glucans from Phytophthora capsici

Abstract

Several glucans have been isolated from the cell walls of Phytophthora capsici, a phytopathogenic fungus of pepper. These polysaccharides consist of a mixture of (1→3) (1→6)-β-d-glucans whose molecular masses varied from 1 × 10⁴ to 2 × 10⁶ daltons. All these polysaccharides have a main chain of β-(1→3)-linked D-glucose residues. They differ in the presence of 1→6 branched oligosidic chains with 1 or 2 d-glucose residues. The effect of growth conditions on the nature of these glucans has been studied. There are significant differences in the size and in the branching of these fungal glucosaccharides depending on the strain and the growth medium.