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Leptolyngbya strains from Roman hypogea: cytochemical and physico-chemical characterisation of exopolysaccharides

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Abstract

Two strains of Leptolyngbya isolated from Roman hypogea were studied in order to characterise the ultrastructural features of the sheath and its composition in exopolysaccharides. Cytochemical stains used in light and transmission electron microscopy allowed detection of the presence of carboxylic groups within the sheath, composed by two different layers. The composition in monosaccharides of three fractions (released, hot and cold capsular polysaccharides) extracted from cultures was determined by reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography, while the behaviour of the fractions at various pH values was studied by using the circular dichroism. The cytochemical and physico-chemical characterisation of exopolysaccharides should help both the conservation of lithic surfaces of artistic interest and the taxonomic identification of Leptolyngbya strains.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Roma, Via della Ricerca Scientifica I, Roma, 00133, Italy

    S. Bellezza & P. Albertano

  2. Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università degli Studi di Roma, Via della Ricerca Scientifica I, Roma, 00133, Italy

    G. Paradossi

  3. Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Agrarie, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Piazzale delle Cascine, 24, I, Firenze, 50144, Italy

    R. De Philippis

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  1. S. Bellezza
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  2. G. Paradossi
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  3. R. De Philippis
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  4. P. Albertano
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Bellezza, S., Paradossi, G., De Philippis, R. et al. Leptolyngbya strains from Roman hypogea: cytochemical and physico-chemical characterisation of exopolysaccharides. Journal of Applied Phycology 15, 193–200 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023811311686

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