Composition and Calcium Binding Properties of the Water Soluble Polysaccharides in the Calcareous Alga <i>Halimeda opuntia</i> (L) (Chlorophyta, Udoteaceae)

Abstract

Abstract The mucilages of this alga contain acid polysaccharides, some of which are Ca binding. After deproteinization and gel filtration the residue of the aqueous algal extract has the composition: 2% complexed protein, 3–4% Ca, 0.4–0.5% SiO 2 , 0.03–0.04% Al, ∼ 0.005% Fe, rest: polysaccharide. The molecular weights of the major and minor polysaccharide fractions are approximately 5000 and 200000 respectively (Sephadex). Uronic acid and O‐ester sulfate give a total of 0.25 μequiv. H + /mg polysaccharide whereas the Ca binding capacity is 2.1 μequiv./mg polysaccharide. Ca complexing of the dibasic polyacid is restricted to the low molecular species and involves the 2 acidic and unidentified nonacidic groups. The complexing strength of the polysaccharide for Ca is similar to succinate. These Ca binding polysaccharides may play a role in algal calcification.