Structural Characterization of a Heterogalactan from Antler-shaped Ganoderma lucidum

Abstract

A heterogalactan fraction, accounting for approximately 0.5% of the dry weight of the fruit body, was derived from a water-extracted polysaccharide fraction from antler-shaped Ganoderma lucidum. The heterogalactan fraction was characterized by sugar composition and sugar linkage composition analyses. The results suggest that the heterogalactan fraction consists of a fucomannogalactan (a linear (1→6)-D-galactan substituted at the O-2 position with non-reducing fucosyl and mannosyl residues), or a mixture of fucogalactan (a linear (1→6)-D-galactan substituted at the O-2 position with non-reducing fucosyl residues) and mannogalactan (a linear (1→6)-D-galactan substituted at the O-2 position with non-reducing mannosyl residues). The molecular weight of the heterogalactan fraction was estimated to be 1.0×10⁴ by gel filtration on Sepharose CL-6B.