Summary
The soluble exocellular polysaccharide secreted by the filamentous cyanobacteria Spirulina platensis is a primary metabolite. It is formed by ten different types of monomer units including six neutral sugars (xylose, rhamnose, fucose, galactose, mannose and glucose in the proportions 1.3/0.3/0.7/2.7/traces/2), two unidentified sugars, two uronic acids and sulphate groups accounting for 40 % and 5 % respectively of the mass of the molecule. This polysaccharide displays a non Newtonian behaviour and a strong pseudoplastic characteristic that may originate in the polyelectrolytic property of the molecule.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bertocchi, C., Navarini, L. and Cesaro, A. (1990). Carbohydr. Polym. 12, 127–153.
Blumenkrantz, N. and Asboe-Hansen, G. (1973). Anal. Biochem. 54, 484–489.
Cornet, J.-F., Dussap, C.G. and Dubertret, G. (1992a). Biotech. Bioeng. 40, 817–825.
Cornet, J.-F., Dussap, C.G., Cluzel, P. and Dubertret, G. (1992b). Biotech. Bioeng. 40, 826–834.
Dussap, C.G., Devita, D. and Pons, A. (1991). Biotech. Bioeng. 38, 65–74.
Gravanis, G., Milas, M., Rinaudo, M. and Clarke-Sturmn, A.J. (1990). Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 12, 201–206.
Midoux, N. (1988) Mécanique et rhéologie des fluides en génie chimique. Technique et documentation. Lavoisier.
Milas, M., Rinaudo, M., Knipper, M. and Schuppiser, J.-L. (1990). Macromolecules 23, 2506–2511.
Montreuil, J., Bouquelet, S., Debray, H., Fournet, B., Spik, G. and Strecker, G. (1986) in: Carbohydrate analysis, a practical approach. pp143–204. IRL Press, Oxford.
Navarini, L., Bertocchi, C., Cesaro, A. and Lapasin, R. (1990). Carbohydr. Polym. 12, 163–187.
Panoff, J.-M., Priem, B., Morvan, H. and Joset, F. (1988). Arch. Microbiol. 150, 558–563.
Plude, J.L., Parker, D.L., Schommer, O.J., Timmerman, R.J., Hagstrom, S.A., Joers, J.M. and Hnaska, R. (1991). Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 57, 1696–1700.
Pons, A., Dussap, C.G. and Gros, J.B. (1989). Biotech. Bioeng. 33, 394–405.
Van Eykelenburg, C. (1979). Antonie van leeuwenhoek 45, 369–390.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Filali Mouhim, R., Cornet, J.F., Fontane, T. et al. Production, isolation and preliminary characterization of the exopolysaccharide of the cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis . Biotechnol Lett 15, 567–572 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00138541
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00138541