mannans
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thumb|500px|Subunit of a typical mannan showing four 1,4-linked beta-D-mannose units, one with a galactose side chain. Mannans are polymers containing the sugar mannose as a principal component. They are a type of polysaccharide found in hemicellulose, a major source of biomass found in higher plants such as softwoods. These polymers also typically contain two other sugars, galactose and glucose. They are often branched (unlike cellulose).
Research
12,970 papersvia PubMed
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Article
7 sectionsContents
- Structural diversity
- Synthesis and degradation
- Biosynthesis
- Etymology
- See also
- References
- Further reading
thumb|500px|Subunit of a typical mannan showing four 1,4-linked beta-D-mannose units, one with a galactose side chain. Mannans are polymers containing the sugar mannose as a principal component. They are a type of polysaccharide found in hemicellulose, a major source of biomass found in higher plants such as softwoods. These polymers also typically contain two other sugars, galactose and glucose. They are often branched (unlike cellulose).
== Structural diversity == Plant mannans have β(1-4) linkages, occasionally with α(1-6) galactose branches, forming galactomannans. They are insoluble and a form of storage polysaccharide. Ivory nut is a source of mannans. An additional type is galactoglucomannan found in soft wood with a mixed mannose/glucose β(1-4) backbone. Conjac and salep have glucomannans with β(1-4) linkages. Many mannans are acetylated and some from marine sources, have sulfate esters side chains.