Ruth Falshaw*, Richard H. Furneaux, Ian M. Sims and Simon F. Hinkley
1Ferrier Research Institute, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 33-436, Petone 5046, New Zealand
Polysaccharide structure is related to taxonomy in many red seaweeds. An endemic epiphytic New Zealand red seaweed known for many years as Porphyra subtumens (J.Agardh ex Laing) was re-classified in 2003 from the order Bangiales into an entirely new genus in the order Erythropeltidales based on molecular sequencing data as well as on the high level of xylose it contains. This species is now called Pyrophyllon subtumens (J. Agardh ex Laing) W.A.Nelson but no detailed characterisation of its hot-water soluble polysaccharide has been undertaken.
Chemical and spectroscopic methods were used to determine the type and linkage/substitution of individual sugar units within the polysaccharide, and a partial sequencing protocol was used to identify certain disaccharide units. Results of these analyses will be presented.
This is the first detailed characterisation of a polysaccharide in the Compsopogonophyceae class of the Proteorhodophytina subphylum, and the unusual polysaccharide found in Pyrophyllon subtumens supports its earlier reclassification from Porphyra subtumens.