Preparation of two series of oligo-guluronic acids from sodium alginate by acid hydrolysis and enzymatic degradation

The objective of this study was to prepare two series of authentic oligo-guluronic acids from sodium alginate. Oligo-guluronic acids (DP = 1-9) were prepared from an acid hydrolysate of poly-guluronic acid by successive chromatographies of Bio-Gel P-6 and Q Sepharose Past Flow. Oligo-guluronic acids having 4-deoxy-L-erythro-hex-4-enopyranosyluronic acid residues at the non-reducing end (DP=27) were prepared from the enzymatic degradation products of the poly-guluronic acid in the same manner, Each of the isolated oligo-guluronic acids gave a single band on fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis. These results suggest that successive chromatographies used in this study are wen suited for the preparation of alginate-derived oligouronic acids.