Lipid content of microparticulate (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan isolated from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
The preparation of pharmaceutical grade (1-->3)-beta-D-glucans from Saccharomyces cerevisiae requires that the microparticulate glucans which are employed as the starting material for drug production be of the highest purity. Potential contaminants of the (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan isolation process are yeast cell wall lipids, which are frequently found in association with glucans. The lipid content of yeast-derived (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan during various stages of the isolation process by methyl esterification and total ion gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was examined. Following sequential alkaline and acid hydrolyses, the total lipid content of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan was 100.4 nmol/mg with 9-cis-C 18:1 fatty acid accounting for 45.3 nmol/mg glucan (45%). Following ethanol extraction of the (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan, lipid was not detected. Indeed, fatty acid methyl esters were not detectable by total ion GC-MS in all twelve samples investigated. These data demonstrate that the isolation process for yeast-derived (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan effectively reduces contamination by yeast cell wall lipids.
Department of Surgery, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City 37614.
A
A
Müller
W
W
Mayberry
R
R
Acuff
S
S
Thedford
W
W
Browder
D
D
Williams
D002473:Cell Wall / Q000737:chemistry; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D004951:Esterification; D005936:Glucans / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000737:chemistry*; D047071:beta-Glucans
D005936:Glucans; D008055:Lipids; D047071:beta-Glucans; C033363:beta-1,3-glucan