Cited by 358Seaweed-derived Bioactive CompoundsPolysaccharides and Plant Cell WallsPolysaccharides Composition and Applications

Structure, biology, evolution, and medical importance of sulfated fucans and galactans

Pomin, V. H, Mourao, P. A S·2008·Glycobiology

Abstract

Sulfated fucans and galactans are strongly anionic polysaccharides found in marine organisms. Their structures vary among species, but their major features are conserved among phyla. Sulfated fucans are found in marine brown algae and echinoderms, whereas sulfated galactans occur in red and green algae, marine angiosperms, tunicates (ascidians), and sea urchins. Polysaccharides with 3-linked, beta-galactose units are highly conserved in some taxonomic groups of marine organisms and show a strong tendency toward 4-sulfation in algae and marine angiosperms, and 2-sulfation in invertebrates. Marine algae mainly express sulfated polysaccharides with complex, heterogeneous structures, whereas marine invertebrates synthesize sulfated fucans and sulfated galactans with regular repetitive structures. These polysaccharides are structural components of the extracellular matrix. Sulfated fucans and galactans are involved in sea urchin fertilization acting as species-specific inducers of the sperm acrosome reaction. Because of this function the structural evolution of sulfated fucans could be a component in the speciation process. The algal and invertebrate polysaccharides are also potent anticoagulant agents of mammalian blood and represent a potential source of compounds for antithrombotic therapies.

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  • Fucoidans have attracted attention as practically nontoxic natural products with antitumor, immunomodulatory, and other useful properties.

    “This research is necessary for the solution of problems of standardization of preparations on the basis of fucoidans, which have attracted attention as practically nontoxic natural products [25,26,27] with antitumor, immunomodulatory, and other useful properties [24,28,29,30].”

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  1. Barnes RD. 1980. Invertebrate Zoology. Philadelphia: WB Saunders.
  2. Gould, SJ. 1984. Hen's teeth and house's toes. Further Reflections in Natural History. London: Penguin.

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Authors
Pomin, V. H., & Mourao, P. A. S.
Affiliations
Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (BR)
Venue
Glycobiology
Published
2008-08-29
Volume
18
Issue
12
Pages
1016-1027
ISSN
  • 0959-6658 (ISSN-L)
  • 1460-2423
OpenAlex
W2142595031
Cited by
356
References
106
Citations by year
2026: 26 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 29 · 2017: 24 · 2016: 25 · 2015: 30 · 2014: 30 · 2013: 23 · 2012: 24
FWCI
2.03
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Glycobiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Aquatic Science › Seaweed-derived Bioactive Compounds
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Polysaccharides and Plant Cell Walls
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Polysaccharides Composition and Applications
Keywords
sulfated fucans, sulfated galactans, anionic polysaccharides, marine algae, marine invertebrates, extracellular matrix, acrosome reaction, sea urchin fertilization, anticoagulant activity, antithrombotic agents, sulfation patterns, beta-galactose
MeSH terms
Phaeophyceae, Animals, Anticoagulants, Galactans, Models, Biological, Phylogeny, Polysaccharides, Sea Urchins, Structure-Activity Relationship, Evolution, Molecular

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