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Structure and Some Properties of Soluble 1,3--Glucan Isolated from the Green Alga Caulerpa simpliciuscula¹

^a Russell Grimwade School of Biochemistry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia

The properties of the soluble -glucans formed during photosynthesis of the green siphonous alga Caulerpa simpliciuscula are described. There are two components in the soluble -glucan fraction. One has an apparent degree of polymerization of 37 glucose units and the other of 270 glucose units. The -glucan with the lower apparent molecular weight accounts for most of the mass in the -glucan fraction and is similar in properties to soluble laminarins reported in other algal and fungal species. The -glucan with the high apparent molecular weight contains most of the radioactivity accumulated in the -glucan fraction during short periods of photosynthesis.