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The galactan system biosynthesized by the red seaweed Gymnogongrus tenuis (Phyllophoraceae) is constituted by major amounts of κ/ι-carrageenans, with predominance of ι-structures, which were isolated by extraction with hot water in high yield (∼ 45%). A small amount of non-cyclized carrageenans mostly of the ν-type was also obtained. Besides, 12% of these galactans are agaran structures, which were present in major quantities in the room temperature water extracts, but they were also found in the hot water extract. They are constituted by 3-linked β-D-galactose units partially substituted on C-6 with sulfate or single stubs of β-D-xylose and 4-linked residues that comprise α-L-galactose units partially sulfated or methoxylated on C-3 or sulfated on C-3 and C-6 and 3,6-anhydro-α-L-galactose. Related structural patterns were previously found for agarans synthesized by other carrageenophytes. Results presented here show that these agarans are low molecular weight molecules independent of the carrageenan structures, with strong interactions between them., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Sulfated and pyruvylated galactans were isolated from three tropical species of the Bryopsidales, Penicillus capitatus, Udotea flabellum, and Halimeda opuntia. They represent the only important sulfated polysaccharides present in the cell walls of these highly calcified seaweeds of the suborder Halimedineae. Their structural features were studied by chemical analyses and NMR spectroscopy. Their backbone comprises 3-, 6-, and 3,6-linkages, constituted by major amounts of 3-linked 4,6-O-(1'-carboxy)ethylidene-d-galactopyranose units in part sulfated on C-2. Sulfation on C-2 was not found in galactans from other seaweeds of this order. In addition, a complex sulfation pattern, comprising also 4-, 6-, and 4,6-disulfated galactose units was found. A fraction from P. capitatus, F1, showed a moderate anticoagulant activity, evaluated by general coagulation tests and also kinetics of fibrin formation was assayed. Besides, preliminary results suggest that one of the possible mechanisms involved is direct thrombin inhibition., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The water extracts from red seaweeds Laurencia obtusa and Laurencia filiformis comprise complex sulfated agarans. Those from L. obtusa have 3-linked β-d-galactose units in part sulfated on 2-position or methylated on 6-position, while the 4-linked units are mostly 3,6-anhydro-α-l-galactose and α-l-galactose 6-sulfate, some of the latter units are substituted with β-d-xylose on 3-position, precluding alkaline cyclization. The 3-linked β-d-galactose units of the agarans from L. filiformis are mostly sulfated on 2-position, but approximately half of these residues also carry the 4,6-O-(1-carboxyethylidene) group. The 4-linked 3,6-anhydro-α-l-galactose units are methylated or substituted in part with single stubs of β-d-xylose on 2-position. This is the first time that substitution with xylose of 3,6-anhydro-α-l-galactose is reported. Besides, α-l-galactose 2-sulfate carrying single stubs of β-d-xylose on 3-position was also detected. These galactans have some common structural characteristics with those of other species of this genus, but also others that are specific for these species., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)