POLYSACCHARIDES IN FUNGI .27. STRUCTURE AND ANTITUMOR-ACTIVITY OF A BRANCHED (1-]3)-BETA-D-GLUCAN FROM THE ALKALINE EXTRACT OF AMANITA-MUSCARIA

A beta-(1 --> 6)-branched (1 --> 3)-beta-D-glucan(AM-ASN) was isolated from the alkaline extract of the fruiting bodies of Amanita muscaria. AM-ASN had [alpha]D - 11-degrees in 0.5M sodium hydroxide. Its estimated molecular weight was 95,000 in this alkaline solution and 260,000 in a neutral solution. The branches in the glucan were primarily single, (1 --> 6)-linked D-glucopyranosyl groups, two for every seven residues in the (1 --> 3)-linked main chain. AM-ASN exhibited significant antitumor activity against Sarcoma 180 in mice, and a mixture of AM-ASN with mitomycin C was more effective against the tumor than mitomycin C only.