title: Isolation and characterization of anticomplementary beta-glucans from the shoots of bamboo Phyllostachys edulis.
abstract: Bamboo, Phyllostachys edulis produces well known edible shoots in Asia. Immunostimulating anticomplementary (complement activating) substances have been recognized as a characteristic biological response modifier (BRM). In the present study, we isolated and characterized three anticomplementary beta-glucans (BS-BGA, BS-BGB, and BS-BGC) from bamboo shoots. Hot-water extraction, DEAE-Toyopearl 650M-column chromatography, amylase digestion and concanavalin A adsorption, and Sephacryl S-100 HR column chromatography were applied to isolate the beta-glucans. The average molecular masses of the beta-glucans were estimated to be from 14,500 to 85,300 Da by HPSEC-MALLS-RI. All three beta-glucans (0.1-1.0 mg/mL) activated the complement system via the alternative pathway, and could cleave human complement C3 under Ca 2+-free gelatin veronal buffered saline. Among them, the largest molecule, BS-BGA was the most potent complement activator. Methylation analysis and NMR spectroscopy were used to achieve their structural characterization. They are all water-soluble and composed mainly of backbone structures of beta-(1-->3)-glucan with beta-(1-->4)-linked side chains varying in degree of branching. BS-BGA consisted of a higher proportion of 3-linked glucopyranosyl residues and a lower degree of branching than BS-BGB and BS-BGC. In particular, BS-BGA contained a small amount of O-acetyl groups at C-6 of the 3-linked glucopyranosyl residues. These data demonstrate that the structural characteristics including molecular size, degree of branching, and O-acetyl substitution are involved, at least in part, in their different anticomplementary activities.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Mee-Hyang
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kweon
authors.forename: Han-Joon
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Ha-Chin
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Sung
mesh_terms: D003169:Complement Inactivator Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005936:Glucans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D006109:Poaceae / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D003169:Complement Inactivator Proteins; D005936:Glucans; D010936:Plant Extracts