Structural analysis of carrageenans from the red alga, Callophyllis hombroniana Mont. Kütz (Kallymeniaceae, Rhodophyta) Original Research Article

The use of a range of modern analytical techniques has facilitated the structural characterisation of the polysaccharide from the New Zealand endemic red alga, Callophyllis hombroniana. The native polysaccharide contains a number of structural units with the largest proportion consisting of 3-linked β-d-galactopyranosyl 2-sulfate units, alternating with 4-linked 3,6-anhydro-α-d-galactopyranosyl 2-sulfate units, that is, θ-carrageenan (36 mol %). C. hombroniana is the first red seaweed reported to naturally contain such a large proportion of θ-carrageenan.