Whole flours from four oat lines with different amounts of beta-glucan (4.8-8.1%) were examined for their antioxidant activity and total phenolic and lignin concentrations. These data, along with the beta-glucan percentages, were compared with bile acid (BA) binding. Only the lignin concentrations of the flours significantly (P < 0.01) correlated with the BA binding values. The oat flours also ...

The exopolysaccharide beta-glucan has been reported to be associated with many health-promoting and prebiotic properties. The membrane-associated glycosyltransferase enzyme (encoded by the gtf gene), responsible for microbial beta-glucan production, catalyzes the conversion of sugar nucleotides into beta-glucan. In this study, the gtf gene from Pediococcus parvulus 2.6 was heterologously expres...

The tumor-killing mechanisms available to monoclonal antibodies (mAbs; e.g., antagonism of growth factor receptors, antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity) limit efficacy. Previous studies suggested that i.v. beta-glucan might function as an adjuvant for antitumor mAbs. beta- Glucan had been shown to function via the iC3b-receptor complement receptor 3 (CR3; CD11b/CD18) thereby enhancing...

To determine whether the infection-preventing capability of the neutrophil-activating agent poly-(1-6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-3)-beta-D-glucopyranose glucan (PGG-glucan) can be enhanced with antibiotic prophylaxis, we administered PGG-glucan and cefazolin, alone and in combination, to guinea pigs inoculated with isolates of staphylococci. Guinea pigs receiving both PGG-glucan and cefazolin ha...

An inhibition enzyme immunoassay was developed for quantitation of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucans in the indoor environment. Immunospecific rabbit antibodies were produced by immunization with bovine serum albuminconjugated laminarin.The laminarin calibration curve ranged from 40 to 3000 ng/ml.Another (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan (curdlan) showed a similar inhibition curve, but was less reactive on a weight b...

CWH41, a gene involved in the assembly of cell wall beta-1,6-glucan, has recently been shown to be the structural gene for Saccharomyces cerevisiae glucosidase I that is responsible for initiating the trimming of terminal alpha-1,2-glucose residue in the N-glycan processing pathway. To distinguish between a direct or indirect role of Cwh41p in the biosynthesis of beta-1,6-glucan, we constructed...

The cyclic beta-(1-->3),beta-(1-->6)-D-glucan synthesis locus of Bradyrhizobium japonicum is composed of at least two genes, ndvB and ndvC. Mutation in either gene affects glucan synthesis, as well as the ability of the bacterium to establish a successful symbiotic interaction with the legume host soybean (Glycine max). B. japonicum strain AB-14 (ndvB::Tn5) does not synthesize beta-glucans, and...

Addition of the antifungal antibiotic papulacandin B to an exponential culture of Geotrichum lactis inhibited incorporation of glucose into the alkali-insoluble and alkali-soluble glucan fractions of the hyphal wall, although the rate of growth was practically unaltered. Synthesis of other cell wall components (i.e. galactomannan and chitin) was not affected. Papulacandin B also induced the pro...

The walls of grasses and related members of the Poales are characterized by the presence of the polysaccharide (1,3, 1,4)-beta-D-glucan (beta-glucan). To date, only members of the grass-specific cellulose synthase-like F (CSLF) gene family have been implicated in its synthesis. Assuming that other grass-specific CSL genes also might encode synthases for this polysaccharide, we cloned HvCSLH1, a...

Yeast cell wall matrix particles are composed entirely of beta-glucan and mannoprotein. Alkali-insoluble (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan was extracted from the yeast cell wall by an alkaline-acid method. IR spectra analysis showed that the product was chemically pure glucan, that is to say, it contained no other carbohydrates and proteins. So, the alkaline-acid method was ideal for extracting (1-->3)-bet...