[Molecular weight and several features of the structure of yeast polysaccharides possessing antiviral properties]

By the methods of biogel R-10, R-30, R-60 and R-200 gel filtration, sedimentation analysis and IR-spectroscopy polysaccharides isolated from yeast Candida tropicalis 3b, C. arborea KAM-1 and a commercial yeast extract (Merck) were investigated. The effect of the preparations on TMV was also studied. Polysaccharides consisted primarily of glucanes with a molecular weight of 10000-16500. The yeast extract preparation also included mannane with a molecular weight of 48000. IV-spectra of the purified preparations were in the main identical and were typical of polysaccharides. The mannane containing preparation inhibited TMV more significantly that glucane containing preparations. The interaction between physical parameters, structure and biological activity of the biopolymers tested is discussed.