title: A beta-D-glucan isolated from the fruiting bodies of Hericium erinaceus and its aqueous conformation.
abstract: HEP3, a beta-D-glucan slightly soluble in water, was isolated from the alkaline extract of the fruiting bodies of Hericium erinaceus. Its chemical structure was investigated by methylation analysis, periodate oxidation, Smith degradation and by IR and NMR spectroscopy. It was shown to have a main chain composed of beta-(1-->3)-linked D-glucopyranosyl residues, with single unit glucosyl branches attached to O-6 of every third backbone residue. Viscometry and Congo red reaction indicated that HEP3 has a highly ordered hydrogen-bond dependent conformation in aqueous solution, which collapses in strong alkaline solution.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Science, Graduate School, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China. dongqun@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Qun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Lian-Meng
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Ji-Nian
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Fang
mesh_terms: D002236:Carbohydrate Conformation; D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D048690:Fruiting Bodies, Fungal / Q000737:chemistry*; D005658:Fungi / Q000737:chemistry*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D047071:beta-Glucans; D014867:Water