Structure–Function Insights into Galactans of Endocladia Muricata: Physicochemical Properties and Immunomodulatory Activity
Carbohydrate Polymers 2025
Sanjida Humayun, Vitālijs Rjabovs, Clarisa Naa Shormeh Darko, Katarzyna Dziubinska-Kuehn, Erki Haavasalu, Indrek Reile, Yeon-Ju Kim, Rando Tuvikene

A structurally diverse galactan was extracted from Endocladia muricata through sequential cold-hot alkaline buffer extraction, followed by ethanol and saline precipitation, yielding four distinct fractions. Chemical analyses (HP-SEC, HPICE, HPAEC) and structural characterization (FTIR, NMR) revealed significant differences in molecular weight, monosaccharide composition, sulfation, and polymer structure between ethanol- and salt-precipitated fractions. NMR confirmed the coexistence of major quantities of carrageenan and minor amounts of agaran domains. Enzymatic degradation using κ-carrageenase revealed a block-wise arrangement of κ- and β-carrabiose units, with β-rich domains showing higher resistance. Diverse agaran structures, including agarose, methoxylated agarose, and funoran, were identified. Rheological studies indicated moderate gelation influenced by K+/Ca2+ synergy. Immunological assays showed that the saline-alcohol precipitated EM-2B fraction strongly activated RAW264.7 macrophages, increasing iNOS and COX-2 expression, NO/ROS production, and pro-inflammatory cytokine release via TLR4 signaling, as shown by TAK-242 inhibition. EM-2B also enhanced acid phosphatase and phagocytic activity, surpassing LPS in efficacy (114% vs. 100%). Microscopy confirmed increased E. coli uptake. These results underscore the immunomodulatory potential of E. muricata galactans, with sulfation, methoxylation, and domain architecture playing key roles. Their block-wise structural organization and gelling properties highlight their promise as biofunctional hydrocolloids for food and biomedical applications.


Keywords
Agaran; Hybrid carrageenan; Immunomodulation; Macrophages; NMR spectroscopy; Red algae; Rheology
DOI
10.1016/j.carbpol.2025.124206
Hyperlink
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0144861725009919?via%3Dihub

Humayun, S., Rjabovs, V., Darko, C., Dziubinska-Kuehn, K., Haavasalu, E., Reile, I., Kim, Y., Tuvikene, R. Structure–Function Insights into Galactans of Endocladia Muricata: Physicochemical Properties and Immunomodulatory Activity. Carbohydrate Polymers, 2025, Vol. 369, Article number 124206. ISSN 0144-8617. e-ISSN 1879-1344. Pieejams: doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2025.124206

Publication language
English (en)
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