Xyloglucan was isolated from xylem-differentiating zones of Cryptomeri
a japonica. Endo-1,4-beta-glucanase digestion of the xyloglucan gave a
series of oligosaccharides. These oligosaccharides were purified by g
el permeation chromatography and normal-phase HPLC. Glycosyl-residue c
omposition and glycosyl-linkage composition analyses, H-1 NMR spectros
copy and FAB-mass spectrometry of the oligosaccharides showed that the
xyloglucan was composed of five kinds of oligosaccharide. These oligo
saccharides are commonly found in xyloglucan from dicot plants and are
characterized as XXXG, XXLG, XXFG, XLLG and XLFG. These results sugge
st that xyloglucan from gymnosperms has similar structure to that of d
icots. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.