The co-occurrence of carrageenan and agaran structures in red seaweeds

MARINA CIANCIA; ALBERTO S. CEREZO

polymer research journal

Nova Science Publishers

Lugar: Nueva York; Año: 2010 vol. 3 p. 353 - 390

1935-2530

In the last seventeen years it has been shown that red seaweeds classified as “carrageenophytes” also biosynthesize agaran structures, while certain “agarophytes” produce small amounts carrageenan structures. No neat separation of these carrageenan/agaran systems was obtained, leading to the idea of “hybrid” molecules, called DL-hybrid galactans. Several points concerning these polysaccharide systems have been addressed: 1. Description of the systems of galactans, in which carrageenan and agaran structures were found (DL-galactan systems), as well as the methodology necessary for their detection. 2. Isolation of “pure” carrageenans or agarans from these systems using non-degrading conditions and the consequent new hypothesis of the formation of molecular complexes. 3. Evidences favoring each hypothesis, namely, the existence of hybrid molecules versus molecular complexes formation.