Structural investigation of a novel fucoglucogalactan isolated from the fruiting bodies of the fungus Hericium erinaceus

A new heteropolysaccharide with a molecular weight of 1.94 × 104 Da, HEPF1, was isolated from the fruiting bodies of Hericium erinaceus. It is composed of fucose, galactose and glucose in the ratio of 1:4:1, as well as a minor proportion of 3-O-methyl rhamnose. Sugar analyses, methylation analysis, together with 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy established that HEPF1 has a (1 → 6)-linked α-d-galactopyranosyl backbone with branches that are composed of fucose attached to O-2; it also contains 6-O-substituted-β-d-oligoglucosyl units and a minor terminal 3-O-methyl rhamnose residue.