Structure and properties of (1,3)-β-D-glucans and interactions with polynucleotides.

(1,3)-β-D-glucans form a group of biologically active biopolymers that exist in different structural organisations depending on the environmental conditions. The biological effects of (1,3)-β-D-glucans is a core issue stimulating large research efforts of the molecular properties and their consequences for action as biological response modifiers. Our laboratory was in 1991 the first to report that (1,3)-β-D-glucans are able to form a topological cyclic macromolecule. We have performed studies to elucidate both the stability, structure and biological activity of (1,3)-β-D-glucans exposed to different pre-treatments. The fascination for these molecules increased further following the finding of their ability to form complexes of defined geometry with a number of structures.

References:

• Structure and stability of polynucleotide-(1,3)-β-D-glucan complexes.
  Sletmoen, M., Næss, S. N., and Stokke, B.T.
  Carbohydrate Polymers 76 (2009) 389-399