POLYSACCHARIDES OF ALGAE .45. POLYSACCHARIDE COMPOSITION OF RED SEAWEEDS FROM KAMCHATKA COASTAL WATERS (NORTHWESTERN PACIFIC) STUDIED BY REDUCTIVE HYDROLYSIS OF BIOMASS

Complete and partial reductive hydrolysis in the presence of borane-4-methylmorpholine complex, preventing 3,6-anhydrogalactose residues from acid degradation, was used to characterize the polysaccharide composition of red seaweeds without the isolation of polysaccharides from the biomass. Preliminary alkaline treatment was applied to the specimens having low 3,6-anhydrogalactose content. Quantification of galactans, glucans, and xylans in algal biomass was performed from the complete reductive hydrolysis data, whereas partial reductive hydrolysis was used to attribute red algal galactans to the agar or carrageenan groups. The relationship between polysaccharide composition and taxonomic status of the algae is discussed based on the analytical data for 40 species of red seaweeds.