Ultrasonic degradation of schizophyllan, an antitumor polysaccharide produced by Schizophyllum commune Fries.
Schizophyllan, a water-soluble beta-D-glucan elaborated by Schizophyllum commune Fries, was partially depolymerized by ultrasonic irradiation to a low-molecular-weight polysaccharide, designated "sonic-degraded schizophyllan". Both native and degraded polysaccharides exhibited essentially the same antitumor activities against Sarcoma-180 ascites. Both glucans are comprised solely of D-glucose residues and have a main chain of (1 leads to 3)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl residues, one out of three glucose residues being attached as single, (1 leads to 6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl groups. Although both glucans have similar structural features, significant differences are observed in such physical properties as molecular weight and intrinsic viscosity. End-group analysis by using radioisotope-labeled glucans suggests that ultrasonic degradation occurs mainly by cleavage of glycosidic bonds of the main chain of schizophyllan. The molecular weights of the native and sonic-degraded schizophyllan were shown to be 75% of those of corresponding, original schizophyllan preparations, suggesting that there is no anomalous linkage sensitive to periodate oxidation, and ultrasonic irradiation may cause random hydrolysis of (1 leads to 3)-beta-D-glucosidic linkages in the main chain.
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007700:Kinetics; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008970:Molecular Weight; D012510:Sarcoma 180 / Q000188:drug therapy; D012567:Schizophyllum; D012566:Sizofiran / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014465:Ultrasonics; D014783:Viscosity
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D012566:Sizofiran