Release and characterization of single side chains of white cabbage pectin and their complement-fixing activity

A mixture of single side chains from white cabbage pectin were obtained by anion exchange chromatography after applying mild chemical conditions promoting -elimination. These pectin fragments were characterized by their molecular weight distribution, sugar composition, 13C-NMR, and MALDI-TOF-MS analysis. These analyses revealed that the large oligosaccharides released by -eliminative treatment were composed of -1,5 linked arabinosyl residues with 2- and 3-linked -arabinosyl side chains, and, or -1,4 linked galactosyl side chains. Fractions were tested for complement-fixing activity in order to determine their interaction with the complement system. These results strongly indicated that there was a minimal unit size responsible for the complement-fixing activity. Neutral pectin fragments (8 kDa) obtained from -elimination were inactive in the complement system, although they contained a sugar composition previously shown to be highly active. Larger pectin fragments (17 kDa) retained some activity, but much lower than polymers containing rhamnogalacturonan type 1 (RGI) structures isolated from the same source. This implied that structural elements containing multiple side chains is necessary for efficient complement-fixing activity