Studies on the chemical structure of tobacco hemicellulose. I. Xylan isolated from the stalk of Nicotiana tabacum.

Abstract

Xylan was isolated by alkaline extraction of the holocellulose from the stalk of Nicotiana tabacum, which was purified by DEAE-cellulose and ion-exchange resin column chromatography. Based on the results of methylation analysis, partial acid hydrolysis and enzymatic hydrolysis, the purified xylan was confirmed to be composed of a straight chain of β-(1-4)-linked D-xylopyranosyl residues. The degree of polymerization was determined as about 100 by membrane osmometry in water.