The occurrence of l-galactose in snail galactans - Bretting, H.; Jacobs, G.; Benecke, I.; Konig, W.A.; Thiem, J. (Elsevier)
The occurrence of l-galactose (l-Gal) was investigated in twelve preparations of snail galactans from nine different species. l-Gal (11-15%) was found not only in members of the family Helicidae, a highly developed group among the Pulmonata, but was detected also in a galactan of the oldest phylogenetic subclass of snails in the Prosobranchiata. To determine the position of the l-Gal residues, the galactans of Arianta arbustorum, Cepaea nemoralis, and Helix pomatia were methylated and hydrolysed, and the partially methylated Gal derivatives were isolated. Each derivative was O-demethylated and the ratio of d- and l-galactose was determined by g.l.c. of the trifluoroacetylated methyl glycosides using a chiral stationary phase. l-Gal (22-34%) was detected only in the tetra-O-methyl fractions, and hence l-Gal occupies exclusively terminal non-reducing positions.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0008-6215(85)90023-0
Keywords: V