Carrageenan from the tetrasporic stage of Gigartina decipiens (Gigartinaceae, Rhodophyta).

The structure of the polysaccharide isolated from tetrasporophytic plants of the New Zealand red alga Gigartina decipiens has been determined by chemical and spectroscopic techniques. It is a linear polymer composed primarily of alternating 3-linked beta-D-galactopyranosyl 2-sulphate and 4-linked alpha-D-galactopyranosyl 2,6-disulphate residues. About 15% of the 3-linked residues have an additional sulphate ester group at the 6-position. Aside from this small extra sulphate substitution, the structure is that of the idealised lambda-carrageenan. Good quality solution-state 13C NMR spectra were recorded and interpreted for this carrageenan and for the carrageenans produced from it by solvolytic desulphation and alkali modification.