Galactomannoglucans of lichenized fungi of Cladonia spp.: significance as chemotypes.

The chemical structures of the glucans, galactoglucomannans and galactomannoglucans of two species of the Cladonia, section Cocciferae, Cladonia miniata and Cladonia salmonea, were determined and compared. alpha-D-Glucans of the nigeran type were isolated from both species, in common with all Cladonia spp., along with galactoglucomannans containing (1-->6)-linked main-chains of alpha-D-Manp units substituted by structurally different and typical side-chains. Isolated were previously unreported galactomannoglucans, with (1-->3)-linked main-chains of beta-D-Glcp units, substituted at O-2,6 by side-chains. These consisted of beta-D-Galf, 6-O-substituted beta-D-Galf and 2-O-, 4-O-, 6-O- and 2, 3-di-O-substituted alpha-D-Manp units. According to (13)C NMR spectroscopy, a similar galactomannoglucan was isolated from the Cladonia spp. Cladonia signata, Cladonia crispatula, Cladonia penicillata, Cladonia imperialis, Cladonia clathrata, Cladonia connexa, Cladonia substellata and Cladonia ibitipocae. Its presence could also contribute to the classic taxonomy of lichenized fungi.