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

该奖项将支持乔治梅森大学的Michael Gretz博士和新西兰科学与工业研究部（DSIR）的Richard Furneauz博士之间的合作研究。红藻的胞外基质多糖包括商业上重要的卡拉胶和琼脂胶，以及纤维素、木聚糖、甘露聚糖和复杂的杂多糖。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，人们对这些来自选定生物体的聚合物的化学性质了解甚多。然而，人们对这些物质和相关的天然化合物在红藻主要种群中的分布知之甚少。因此，需要对这种植物分类进行更详细的调查。本研究的目的是利用新西兰最近开发的甲基化分析（气相色谱/质谱）以及核磁共振（NMR）和x射线衍射分析技术对新西兰和北美红藻细胞壁聚合物进行比较生化分析。第二个目标是更好地了解这些多糖的生物合成途径，使用目前在美国开发的一种独特的方法，结合前体分子的13c标记以及甲基化分析和核磁共振。该项目代表了美国和新西兰集团在利用他们在藻多糖研究方面的互补技能方面的卓越合作。这是研究红藻多糖生物化学的重要基础工作，并具有发现其他天然产物来源的潜力。

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.