A STRUCTURAL-ANALYSIS OF THE POLYSACCHARIDE FROM KALLYMENIA-BERGGRENII J AG

The polysaccharide extracted from Kallymenia berggrenii was found to b e a non-gelling partially sulphated and partially methylated galactan with a structure reasonably closely related to other polysaccharides w hich have been extracted from seaweeds in the order Cryptonemiales. Th e polysaccharide contained L-galactose, approximately 25% 3,6-anhydro- L-galactose, of which approximately 1/3 was the 2-O-methyl ether, appr oximately 6% of 6-O-methyl-D-galactose and 1% of 2-O-methyl-D-galactos e. Sulphate esters were most likely present at most if not all availab le hydroxyl groups, including the 3-position, and the variety of sulph ate substitution could indicate that sulphation was occurring almost r andomly.