Sequence analysis of the sulfated rhamno-oligosaccharides derived from a sulfated rhamnan

Preparation, structures, and biological functions of rhamnan sulfate from green seaweed of the genus Monostroma: A review

Rhamnan sulfate, a rhamnose-rich sulfated polysaccharide, is present in the cell walls of green seaweed belonging to the genus Monostroma. This macromolecule demonstrates promising therapeutic properties, including anti-coagulant, thrombolytic, anti-viral, anti-obesity, and anti-inflammatory activities, which hold potential applications in food and medical industries. However, rhamnan sulfate has not garnered as much attention from researchers as other seaweed polysaccharides, including alginate, carrageenan, and fucoidan. This review discusses the extraction and purification techniques of rhamnan sulfate, delves into its chemical structures and related elucidation approaches, and provides an overview of its biological functions. Future research should focus on the structure-activity relationship of rhamnan sulfate and the industrial preparation of rhamnan sulfate with a specific homogeneous structure to facilitate its practical applications.

Anti-diabetic activity of a sulfated galactoarabinan with unique structural characteristics from Cladophora oligoclada (Chlorophyta)

The polysaccharide from green alga Cladophora oligoclada, OHSS2, was a sulfated galactoarabinan which was constituted by a backbone of (1 → 4)-β-l-arabinopyranose units with partial sulfate at C-3 of (1 → 4)-β-l-arabinopyranose units. The side chains containing (1 → 4)-β-l-arabinopyranose, (1 → 4)-β-d-galactopyranose and/or (1 → 4,6)-β-d-galactopyranose units were in C-2/C-3 of (1 → 4)-β-l-arabinopyranose units. OHSS2 had strong anti-diabetic activity in vitro assessed by inhibition of human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) aggregation. The mechanism analysis of anti-diabetic activity showed that OHSS2 diminished the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species and alleviated hIAPP aggregation-induced oxidative stress in NIT-1 cells. OHSS2 stabilized mitochondrial membrane potential, and enhanced the mitochondrial complex I, II or III activity and ATP level. Thus, OHSS2 effectively protected mitochondria from hIAPP aggregation-induced damage. Furthermore, OHSS2 was co-localized with mitochondria and could have a direct influence on mitochondrial function. These results revealed that OHSS2 had potential as a novel anti-diabetic agent.

Recent advances in marine algae oligosaccharides: structure, analysis, and potential prebiotic activities

Marine algae contain abundant polysaccharides that support a range of health-promoting activities; however, the high molecular weight, high viscosity, and low solubility of marine algae polysaccharides (MAPs) limit their application in food, agriculture and medicine. Thus, as the degradation products of MAPs, marine algae oligosaccharides (MAOs) have drawn increasing attention. Most MAOs are non-digestible by digestive enzyme in the human gastrointestinal tract, but are fermented by bacteria in the gut and converted into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). MAOs can selectively enhance the activities of some populations of beneficial bacteria and stimulate a series of prebiotic effects, such as anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-tumour. However, the exact structures of MAOs and their prebiotic activities are, to a large extent, unexplored. This review summarizes recent advances in the sources, categories, and structure analysis methods of MAOs, emphasizing their effects on gut microbiota and its metabolite SCFAs as well as the resulting range of probiotic activities.

Anticoagulant and Antithrombotic Properties in Vitro and in Vivo of a Novel Sulfated Polysaccharide from Marine Green Alga Monostroma nitidum

Sulfated polysaccharides from marine algae have high potential as promising candidates for marine drug development. In this study, a homogeneous sulfated polysaccharide from the marine green alga Monostroma nitidum, designated MS-1, was isolated using water extraction and anion-exchange and size-exclusion chromatography. Results of chemical and spectroscopic analyses showed that MS-1 mainly consisted of →3)-α-l-Rhap-(1→ and →2)-α-l-Rhap-(1→ residues, with additional branches consisting of 4-linked β-d-xylose, 4-/6-linked d-glucose, terminal β-d-glucuronic acid, and 3-/2-linked α-l-rhamnose. Sulfate ester groups substituted mainly at C-2/C-4 of →3)-α-l-Rhap-(1→ and C-4 of →2)-α-l-Rhap-(1→ residues, slightly at C-2 of terminal β-d-glucuronic residues. MS-1 exhibited strong anticoagulant activity in vitro and in vivo as evaluated by the activated partial thromboplastin time and thrombin time assays, and significantly decreased platelet aggregation. The anticoagulant activity mechanism of MS-1 was mainly attributed to strong potentiation thrombin by heparin cofactor-II, and it also hastened thrombin and coagulation factor Xa inhibitions by potentiating antithrombin-III. MS-1 possessed markedly thrombolytic activity evaluated by plasminogen activator inhibitior-1, fibrin degradation products, and D-dimer levels using rats plasma, and recanalization rate by FeCl₃-induced carotid artery thrombosis in mice. MS-1 exhibited strong antithrombotic activity in vitro and in vivo evaluated by the wet weighs and lengths of thrombus, and thrombus occlusion time by electrically-induced carotid artery thrombosis in rats. These results suggested that MS-1 could be a promising marine drug for prevention and therapy of thromboembolic disease.

Antiviral activity against enterovirus 71 of sulfated rhamnan isolated from the green alga Monostroma latissimum

Polysaccharide from Monostroma latissimum PML is a sulfated rhamnan, which consists of →3)-α-L-Rhap-(1→ and →2)-α-L-Rhap-(1→ residues with partial branches and sulfate groups at C-2 of →3)-α-L-Rhap-(1→ and/or C-3 of →2)-α-L-Rhap-(1→. The anti-enterovirus 71 (EV71) activity in vitro of PML was assessed by cytopathic effect inhibition and plaque reduction assays, and the results showed that PML was non-cytotoxic and significantly inhibited EV71 infection. The mechanism analysis of anti-EV71 activity demonstrated that PML largely inhibited viral replication before or during viral adsorption, mainly by targeting the capsid protein VP1. PML may also inhibit some early steps of infection after viral adsorption by modulating signaling through the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) pathway. Moreover, PML markedly improved survival and decreased viral titers in EV71-infected mice. The investigation revealed that PML has potential as a novel anti-EV71 agent targeting the viral capsid protein as well as cellular EGFR/PI3K/Akt pathway.

A sulfated heterorhamnan with novel structure isolated from the green alga Monostroma angicava

A sulfated polysaccharide, designated MAP2, was isolated from Monostroma angicava by water extraction, anion-exchange and size-exclusion chromatography. The structural characteristics of MAP2 were investigated by chemical and spectroscopic methods, including methylation analysis, one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance and electrospray mass spectrometry with collision-induced dissociation spectroscopic analyses. The results showed that MAP2 was primarily composed of rhamnose with small amounts of xylose, glucuronic acid and glucose. The molecular weight of MAP2 was estimated to be about 671 kDa. The backbone of MAP2 was mainly constituted by 3-linked, 2-linked-á-l-rhamnose residues. Sulfate substitutions were at C-2/C-4 of 3-linked-á-l-rhamnose and C-3/C-4 of 2-linked-á-l-rhamnose residues. The branches consisted of 3-linked and 2-linked-á-l-rhamnose with monosulfate/unsulfate, as well as small amounts of β-d-GlcA-(1→ and β-d-GlcA (2SO₄)-(1 → . Minor amounts of →4)-d-Glcp-(1→ and β-d-Xylp (4SO₄)-(1→ might also be existent in MAP2. The investigation demonstrated that MAP2 was a novel sulfated rhamnan distinguishing from other algal sulfated rhamnans.

A rhamnan-type sulfated polysaccharide with novel structure from Monostroma angicava Kjellm (Chlorophyta) and its bioactivity

A homogeneous polysaccharide was obtained from Monostroma angicava Kjellm by water extraction, preparative anion-exchange and size-exclusion chromatography. Results of chemical and spectroscopic analyses showed that the polysaccharide was a glucuronic acid-containing rhamnan-type sulfated polysaccharide. The backbone mainly consisted of →3)-α-l-Rhap-(1→ and →2)-α-l-Rhap-(1→ residues, partially sulfated at C-2 of →3)-α-l-Rhap-(1→ and C-3/C-4 of →2)-α-l-Rhap-(1→. The branching contained unsulfated or monosulfated 3-linked, 2-linked, 4-linked α-l-rhamnose and terminal β-d-glucuronic acid residues. The polysaccharide had strong antidiabetic activity assessed by glucose consumption, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels using human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) and insulin-resistant HepG2 cells. The polysaccharide exhibited high anticoagulant property by activated partial thromboplastin time and thrombin time assays, and possessed high fibrin(ogen)olytic activity evaluated by plasminogen activator inhibitior-1, fibrin(ogen) degradation products and D-dimer levels using rats plasma. The investigation demonstrated that the polysaccharide from Monostroma angicava Kjellm was a novel sulfated rhamnan and could be a potential antidiabetic and anticoagulant polysaccharide.

Purification, Chemical Characterization, and Bioactivity of an Extracellular Polysaccharide Produced by the Marine Sponge Endogenous Fungus Alternaria sp. SP-32

Marine sponges are ancient and simple multicellular filter-feeding invertebrates attached to solid substrates in benthic habitats and host a variety of fungi both inside and on their surface because of its unique ingestion and digest system. Investigation on marine sponge-associated fungi mainly focused on the small molecular metabolites, yet little attention had been paid to the extracellular polysaccharides. In this study, a homogeneous extracellular polysaccharide AS2-1 was obtained from the fermented broth of the marine sponge endogenous fungus Alternaria sp. SP-32 using ethanol precipitation, anion-exchange, and size-exclusion chromatography. Results of chemical and spectroscopic analyses showed that AS2-1 was composed of mannose, glucose, and galactose with a molar ratio of 1.00:0.67:0.35, and its molecular weight was 27.4 kDa. AS2-1 consists of a mannan core and a galactoglucan chain. The mannan core is composed of (1→6)-α-Manp substituted at C-2 by (1→2)-α-Manp with different degrees of polymerization. The galactoglucan chain consists of (1→6)-α-Glcp residues with (1→6)-β-Galf residues attached to the last glucopyranose residue at C-6. (1→6)-β-Galf residues have additional branches at C-2 consisting of disaccharide units of (1→2)-β-Galf and (1→2)-α-Glcp residues. The glucopyranose residue of the galactoglucan chain is linked to the mannan core. AS2-1 possessed a high antioxidant activity as evaluated by scavenging of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and hydroxyl radicals in vitro. AS2-1 was also evaluated for cytotoxic activity on Hela, HL-60, and K562 cell lines by the MTT and SRB methods. The investigation demonstrated that AS2-1 was a novel extracellular polysaccharide with different characterization from extracellular polysaccharides produced by other marine microorganisms.