Glucan
A glucan molecule is a polysaccharide of D-glucose monomers[1] linked by glycosidic bonds.
Many beta-glucans are medically important.
Types
The following are glucans: (The α- and β- and numbers clarify the type of O-glycosidic bond.)
Alpha
- dextran, α-1,6-glucan
- glycogen, α-1,4- and α-1,6-glucan
- pullulan, α-1,4- and α-1,6-glucan
- starch, α-1,4- and α-1,6-glucan
Beta
- cellulose, β-1,4-glucan
- curdlan, β-1,3-glucan
- laminarin, β-1,3- and β-1,6-glucan
- chrysolaminarin, β-1,3-glucan
- lentinan, a strictly purified β-1,6:β-1,3-glucan from Lentinus edodes
- lichenin, β-1,3- and β-1,4-glucan
- pleuran, β-1,3- and β-1,6-glucan isolated from Pleurotus ostreatus
- zymosan, β-1,3-glucan
See also
Properties
Properties of Glucans include resistance to oral acids/enzyme and water insolubility.
References
- ^ Glucans at the U.S. National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)