Abstract:Carrageenan is a kind of linear sulphated polysaccharide extracted from the cell wall of marine red algae, which is formed by the alternating connection of 1,3-β-D-galactose and 1,4-α-D -galactose as the basic skeleton. Studies have shown that carrageenan and its molecular modified derivatives have many biological activities such as anti-tumor, anti-virus, anti-coagulation, enhancing cellular immunity and humoral immunity. Carrageenase is a glycoside hydrolase that degrades carrageenan by breaking theβ-1,4-glycosidic bond. Carrageenan sulfase, also known as carrageenan sulfase, is an enzyme that acts on the sulfate group of oligo-carrageenan to free inorganic sulfuric acid. These two enzymes have a synergistic effect on the degradation of carrageenan polysaccharides. However, due to the complex structure of carrageenan polysaccharides, the degradation and molecular modification of carrageenan have not been explored in the past. Nowadays, with the introduction of technology and the various biological activities of carrageenan polysaccharides, the molecular modification of carrageenan polysaccharides has attracted the continuous attention of relevant researchers. In this paper, the molecular modification of carrageenan polysaccharides in recent years is reviewed, with emphasis on the research progress of carrageenan and sulfatase. The changes of physiological activity after modification were also described.
