ARS | Publication request: Production of the bioactive polysaccharide schizophyllan from renewable cellulosic materials

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: August 23, 2012
Publication Date: August 23, 2012
Citation: Sutivisedsak, N., Leathers, T.D., Nunnally, M.S., Price, N.P. 2012. Production of the bioactive polysaccharide schizophyllan from renewable cellulosic materials [abstract]. American Chemical Society. CELL-14.

Technical Abstract: Schizophyllan is a bioactive homoglucan with a ß-1,3-linked backbone and ß-1,6-linked side chains of single glucose units at every other residue. It is produced by the ubiquitous mushroom, Schizophyllum commune. Schizophyllan acts as a biological response modifier and a non-specific stimulator of the immune system. It is used in vaccines, anti-cancer therapies, and as a bioactive cosmetics ingredient. Schizophyllan is conventionally produced by submerged culture fermentation using glucose as a carbon source. In this study, a variety of renewable cellulosic materials were tested as alternative substrates. Agricultural residues were identified as promising for schizophyllan production. Fermentation conditions were optimized, and the recovered polysaccharide was found to be primarily composed of glucose. NMR and permethylation analyses confirmed the presence of ß-1,3 and ß-1,6 glycosidic linkages characteristic of schizophyllan. Schizophyllan produced from agricultural residues was of a high molecular weight, and exhibited solution viscosity properties similar to those of commercially produced material.