Identification of the extracellular polysaccharide produced by the snow mold fungus Microdochium nivale.

A water-insoluble, extracellular polysaccharide was isolated from the culture medium of the snow mold fungus, Microdochium nivale, that had been cultivated in potato/dextrose broth. The polysaccharide consisted of glucose only. Its Fourier transform infrared spectrum showed a beta configuration of the C1 position of glucose. Linkage analysis of the polysaccharide showed that it had a linear structure of β-(1→4)-linked glucose. The polysaccharide was therefore identified as cellulose. This is the first report of extracellular cellulose occurring in fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]