REU: Cell Wall Polysaccharides and Systematics of Rhodophyta

红藻细胞壁多糖包括商业上重要的卡拉胶和琼胶，以及纤维素、木聚糖、甘露聚糖和复合杂多糖。部分由于这些化合物及其衍生物作为胶凝剂、乳化剂和施胶剂的商业意义，人们对这些聚合物的化学成分从选定的生物体中知道得很多。然而，关于这些和相关的天然产物在红藻(红藻门)主要类群中的分类分布，人们知之甚少。Gretz博士和Sommerfeld博士正在进行一项广泛的化学调查来解决这个问题。细胞壁多糖也是潜在有用的生化标记，在评估藻类群之间的自然进化亲缘关系方面可能有价值。该项目将致力于利用甲基化分析(气相色谱/质谱仪)、核磁共振和X射线衍射分析等现代技术，对红藻目、红藻目、红毛目、无毛目、线虫目、无毛目和博纳目的“关键”类群的细胞壁进行生化分析。除了产生的科学信息和发现新天然产品来源的潜力外，该项目还旨在鼓励本科生参与原创研究。学生将直接接触到科学方法的应用和现代分析技术和仪器，这将激发他们对科学事业的兴趣。

Cell wall polysaccharides 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 taxonomic distribution of these and related natural products among major groups of the red algae (Rhodophyta). Drs. Gretz and Sommerfeld are undertaking an extensive chemical survey to address this problem. Cell wall polysaccharides are also potentially useful biochemical markers that may be valuable in the assessment of natural evolutionary affinities between algal groups. Efforts in this project will be directed toward biochemical analysis of cell walls of "key" groups in the Erythropeltidales, Compsopogonales, Rhodochaetales, Achrochaetiales, Nemaliales, Batrachospermales, and Bonnemaisonales using modern techniques such as methylation analysis (gas chromatography/mass spectrometry), nuclear magnetic resonance and x-ray diffraction analysis. In addition to the scientific information generated and the potential for discovery of sources of novel natural products, this project is designed to encourage undergraduate students to participate in original research. Students will be exposed directly to the application of the scientific method and to modern analytical techniques and apparatus, which will stimulate their interest in careers in science.