U.S.-New Zealand Cooperative Research: Biochemistry of Red Algal Polysaccharides

该奖项将支持博士之间的合作研究。 乔治梅森大学的迈克尔·格雷茨和理查德博士 新西兰科学和技术部的Furneauz说， 工业研究（DSIR）。细胞外基质多囊- 红藻的碳水化合物包括商业上重要的 角叉菜胶和琼脂胶体以及纤维素，木聚糖， 甘露聚糖和复合杂多糖。 部分原因是 这些化合物的商业意义及其 作为胶凝剂、乳化剂和施胶剂的衍生物， 已知这些聚合物的化学性质， 有机体然而，人们对它的了解相对较少。 这些化合物和相关天然化合物在 红藻的主要类群。对此进行更详细的调查 因此，需要进行工厂划分。的目的 研究是细胞壁的比较生化分析 新西兰和北美红藻的聚合物， 新西兰最近开发的甲基化技术 分析（气相色谱/质谱），以及 核磁共振（NMR）和X射线衍射 分析.第二个目标是更好地了解 这些多糖的生物合成途径， 目前在美国正在开发的独特方法 采用前体分子13 C标记的国家 结合甲基化分析和NMR。 该项目代表了 美国和新西兰集团利用其互补性 藻类多糖研究技巧。这很重要 红藻多糖生物化学的基础工作， 并有可能发现额外的 天然产品。

This award will support collaborative research between Dr. Michael Gretz of George Mason University and Dr. Richard Furneauz of the New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR). Extracellular matrix polysac- charides of red algae include the commercially important carrageenans and agarocolloids as well as cellulose, xylans, mannans, and complex heteropolysaccharides. Due in part to the commercial significance of these compounds and their derivatives as gelling, emulsifying and sizing agents, much is known of the chemistry of these polymers from selected organisms. Relatively little is known, however, about the distribution of these and related natural compounds among major groups of the red algae. A more detailed survey of this plant division is therefore needed. The objective of this research is comparative biochemical analysis of cell wall polymers of New Zealand and North American red algae using techniques recently developed in New Zealand for methylation analysis (gas chromatography/mass spectrometry), as well as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and x-ray diffraction analysis. A second objective is to better understand the biosynthetic pathways to these polysacchardides using a unique approach currently being developed in the United States incorporating 13C-labelling of precursor molecules coupled with methylation analysis and NMR. The project represents excellent collaboration between the U.S. and New Zealand group in utilizing their complementary skills in algal polysaccharide research. This is important fundmental work on the biochemistry of red algal polysaccrides, and has the potential for discovery of sources of additional natural products.