Glucan

Glucans are polysaccharides which are composed solely of D-glucose molecules and linked by glycosidic bond. Similarly, there is the substance group of fructans fructose monomers.

Types

A classification can be made on the type of glycosidic bond:

Alpha -glucans

The following glucans have an α - glycosidic bond:

  • Dextran, α -1 ,6- glucan branching Glc ( α -1, 4/1, 2/ 1, 3)
  • Mutan, 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 (amylose, amylopectin)

Beta -glucans

The following glucans have a β - glycosidic bond and are partly in medicine of importance:

  • Cellulose, β -1 ,4- glucan
  • Chitin, 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 purified β -1, 6: β -1 ,3- glucan isolated from Lentinula 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
  • Schizophyllan, β -1, 3 - and β -1 ,6- glucan
  • Scleroglucan, β -1, 3 - and β -1 ,6- glucan

Documents

  • Substance Group
  • Polysaccharide
Medical Subject Headings Digital Object Identifier
269458
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