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A robust method for quantitative detection of β-1,3-glucan using Limulus polyphemus factor Gα fragment
Andong Zhou1, Yitong Li1, Yuanning Wang1
1Engineering Research Center of Glycoconjugates, Ministry of Education, Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Biology of Changbai Mountain Natural Drugs, School of Life Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China.
Carbohydrate Polymers
|July 30, 2025
Summary
A new ELISA method using Limulus polyphemus factor Gα (LFGα) fragments accurately detects β-1,3-glucans. This branching-insensitive assay is crucial for food and pharmaceutical applications.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- β-1,3-glucan is a key fungal and plant cell wall component.
- Accurate detection is vital for food and pharmaceutical industries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a robust and accurate method for quantifying β-1,3-glucans.
- To evaluate the binding affinities of Limulus polyphemus factor Gα (LFGα) fragments to β-1,3-glucans.
Main Methods:
- Extraction and structural characterization of five β-1,3-glucans from edible mushrooms.
- ELISA assay to assess binding affinities of truncated LFGα variants (Q+D1+D2, D1+D2, D1, D2).
- AlphaFold modeling and molecular docking to support binding observations.
Main Results:
- LFGα fragment Q+D1+D2 showed high affinity for all tested β-1,3-glucans, irrespective of branching.
- Other LFGα fragments exhibited reduced affinity with increased β-1,3-glucan branching.
- A Q+D1+D2-based ELISA assay accurately quantified mushroom β-1,3-glucans, aligning with established standards.
Conclusions:
- The Q+D1+D2 fragment provides a reliable basis for a branching-insensitive β-1,3-glucan detection assay.
- The developed ELISA method offers an efficient approach for quantitative β-1,3-glucan analysis.
