THE ENZYMATIC TRANSFORMATIONS OF LAMINARA NS IN 1-]3-1-]-6-BETA-D-GLUCANS WITH IMMUNOSTIMULATING ACTIVITY

A new 1-->3;1-->6-beta-D-glucan (translam) with immunostimulating acti vity was isolated from products of the laminaran (L, cichorioides) tra nsformation with endo- 1-->3-beta-D-glucanase L0 (Chlamys albidus). As compared with laminaran, translam has a higher molecular weight, cont ains a 2.5-fold number of 1-->6-bound glucose residues mainly about th e nonreducing end of the molecule, but no mannitol. Some of the 1-->6- linked glucose residues are included in contrast to laminaran in the m ain chain of 1-->3-beta-D-glucan. It was shown that the translam forma tion is due to the ability of endo-1-->3-beta-D-glucanase LO to cataly ze the synthesis not only of 1-->3-but also of 1-->6-glucosidic linkag es.