title: Galactofuranose-rich heteropolysaccharide from Trebouxia sp., photobiont of the lichen Ramalina gracilis and its effect on macrophage activation.
abstract: A structural study of the carbohydrates from Trebouxia sp., the algal symbiont of the lichen Ramalina gracilis demonstrated a galactofuranan-rich heteropolysaccharide, which was predominated by (1-->5)-linked galactofuranosyl units with side-chains in position 6 on approximately 11.0% of the units. The side-chains have very complex branched structures. This polysaccharide showed cell eliciting activity on peritoneal macrophages in vitro at all concentrations tested (1-150 microg/mL), and at 150 microg/mL an increase of 60% of macrophage activation in comparison to the control group was observed. A potential role of these carbohydrates in lichen recognition process is also discussed.
authors: Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Paraná, CP 19.046, CEP 81.531-990, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors: Lucimara M C
authors: LM
authors: Cordeiro
authors: Simone M
authors: SM
authors: de Oliveira
authors: Dorly F
authors: DF
authors: Buchi
authors: Marcello
authors: M
authors: Iacomini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000737:chemistry*; D005690:Galactose / Q000737:chemistry*; D008011:Lichens / Q000737:chemistry*; D008262:Macrophage Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D011134:Polysaccharides; D005690:Galactose