Polysaccharides

<p>Applications Isomaltopentaose, is an isomalto-oligosaccharides (IMO) compound, used as functional food ingredients.<br>References Hu, Y., et al.: Lett. App. Microbio., 57, 108 (2013);<br></p>

<p>Fluorescein dextran (FD) is widely used as both an anterograde and retrograde tracer in neurons and for numerous other applications. It is biologically rather inert having α-1,6-linked glucose residues resistant to cleavage by most endogenous cellular glycosidases. It has low immunogenicity and makes an ideal long-term tracer for live cells. FD also serves as a valuable marker for cell loading of macromolecules by micro-injection, vesicular fusion, and electroporation, as well as for the uptake and internal processing of exogenous materials by phagocytotic and endocytic pathways.</p>

<p>Pectins are regarded as linear chains of α-1,4-linked D-galacturonic acid, a homogalacturonan (pectic acid). In the products of commerce, the degree of methylation has a vital influence on the properties of pectin, especially the solubility and gel forming characteristics. Commercial high methoxy (HM) pectin has &gt; 70% of hydroxyl groups methyl esterified. HM pectin forms gels in the presence of sucrose and for this reason it is used in jams often in combination with other fruits.</p>

<p>DEAE-Dextran hydrochloride (DEAE-D) is a positively-charged dextran derivative that can be used for vaccine production, gene therapy, protein stabilisation, dyslipidemia prevention, as flocculating agent, and many other applications. DEAE-D is also used for transfecting animal cells with foreign DNA.  DEAE-Sepharose, DEAE-650 and DEAE-Sephadex are commonly used in chromatography for the separation of biological molecules such as proteins and carbohydrates.</p>

<p>Fluorescein isothiocyanate carboxymethyl dextran (FITC-CM Dextran) has been reported to provide a valuable carrier for nanoparticles of iron oxide.  These products provide a potent tool for contrast enhancement in magnetic resonance imaging.</p>

<p>LH 21 is a low-substituted hydroxypropylcellulose. It is produced by the fluorination of cellulose, followed by substitution with a variety of monosaccharides and oligosaccharides to produce a complex carbohydrate. LH 21 is synthesized for custom needs, glycosylated, methylated, and modified at the sugar level with click chemistry. It has a CAS No. 9004-64-2 and is Carbohydrate in nature. LH 21 has high purity and can be used in many applications including as an excipient or additive in pharmaceutical formulations.</p>

<p>Cellulose is a linear polysaccharide of β 1-4 linked glucose residues. The polysaccharide chains are bundled as microfibrils in cell walls and provide the essential structural components within growing plants. Each microfibril exhibits a high degree of three-dimensional internal bonding resulting in a crystalline structure that is insoluble in water, resistant to reagents and very strong.</p>

<p>Ulvans are structural polysaccharides present in the cell walls of green algae such as Ulva armoricana, Ulva rotondata, Ulva rigida, Ulva lacterca and Ulva pertusa. They are highly sulphated and contain rhamnose 3-sulphate, xylose, xylose 2-sulphate, glucuronic acid and iduronic acid residues. Ulvan has several potentially valuable functionalities such as gel formation for agricultural and food applications and possible anticoagulant, antioxidant, antihyperlipidemic and antitumoral activities for pharmaceutical applications.<br>The image was kindly provided by Prof Mike Guiry from Cork who runs ‘The Seaweed Site’.</p>

<p>Dyed and soluble azo-xyloglucan (tamarind) is used for the measurement of enzyme activity, research, biochemical enzyme assays and in vitro diagnostic analysis.  It is a soluble chromogenic substrate for the assaying of endo-cellulase.</p>

<p>Chondroitin sulfate A sodium from bovine trachea is a natural substance that has been found to have potential anticancer properties. It has been shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells in Chinese hamster ovary cells and human urine tumor cell lines. Chondroitin sulfate A sodium from bovine trachea works by inhibiting kinases, which are proteins that play a key role in cell growth and division. This inhibition leads to apoptosis, or programmed cell death, in cancer cells. Additionally, chondroitin sulfate A sodium from bovine trachea has been found to enhance the anticancer activity of artesunate analogs, making it a promising candidate for combination therapy in cancer treatment.</p>

<p>Viscoelastic polymer; excipient; food additive</p>

<p>Teichuronic acid is isolated from the cell walls of Micrococcus luteus. The structure has been elucidated as [ManNAcUAp-(β-1,6)-Glcp-(α -1,4)]n.</p>

<p>Viscoelastic polymer; excipient; food additive</p>

<p>Anterograde and retrograde tracer in neurons; biologically inert</p>

<p>Fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran is a fluorescent derivative of a dextran fraction with an average molecular weight of approximately 4000. It is supplied as a yellow powder which is readily soluble in water.</p>

<p>Pectin is a highly complex polysaccharide matrix that is found in the primary walls of dicotyledenous and monocotyledenous plants and gymnosperms, including potato. A key fragment of this complex is rhamnogalacturonan I, containing a backbone of the repeating disaccharide  [-4)-α-D-GalpA-(1,2)-α-L-Rhap-(1,]. Several applications for RG1 have been described including drug targeting to the colon via the oral administration route for local treatment of e.g. inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer.  This has several advantages such as needle-free administration and low infection risk. In the gastro-intestinal tract RG-I is only degraded by the action of the colonic microflora. High purity rhamnogalacturonan I is also used in research, biochemical enzyme assays and in vitro diagnostic analysis.</p>

<p>Methyl cellulose is a synthetic polymer of cellulose. It is prepared by treating the natural polymer with a methylating agent, such as dimethyl sulfate. Methylation is carried out in the presence of an acid catalyst to produce mainly methyl ethers and methyl esters. The degree of substitution may be controlled by the amount of catalyst. Methyl cellulose is used as a thickener, emulsifier, or stabilizer in many food products, including ice cream and toothpaste.</p>

<p>Complex glucan (a 1-6) from Leuconostoc spp.; extender in blood transfusions.</p>

<p>Low calcium heparin is a glycosaminoglycan, which occurs in many mammalian tissues and has important anticoagulant and thrombolytic properties. The chemical structure is composed mainly of two disaccharide repeating units A and B. A is L-iduronic acid 2-suplhate linked α-(1,4) to 2-deoxy-2-sulfamido-D-galactose 6-sulphate, while B is D-glucuronic acid β-(1,4) linked to 2-deoxy-2-sulfamido-D-glucose 6-sulphate.</p>

<p>Fluorescein isothiocyanate carboxymethyl dextran (FITC-CM Dextran) has been reported to provide a valuable carrier for nanoparticles of iron oxide.  These products provide a potent tool for contrast enhancement in magnetic resonance imaging.</p>

<p>Cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP) finds use in the formulation of pharmaceuticals, such as the enteric coating of tablets or capsules and for controlled release formulations, where it is often used with other coating agents such as ethyl cellulose.  It contains about 50% acetate and 25% as the phthalate ester with the rest as free hydroxyl groups.  Enteric coatings based on CAP are resistant to acidic gastric fluids, but easily soluble in mildly basic medium of the intestine. The pH-sensitive solubility of CAP is mainly determined (as are other properties of this mixed ester) by the degree of substitution and by the molar ratio (acetyl and phthaloyl groups).</p>

<p>In water, hydroxypropyl cellulose forms liquid crystals with many mesophases depending on concentration. These mesophases include isotropic, anisotropic, nematic and cholesteric, the latter resulting in many colors such as violet, green and red. Pharmaceutical applications include treatments for medical conditions such as dry eye syndrome (keratoconjunctivitis sicca), recurrent corneal erosions, decreased corneal sensitivity, exposure and neuroparalytic keratitis. It is also used as a binder in tablets. Hydroxypropylcellulose is also used as a thickener, a binder and emulsion stabiliser in foods with E number E463.  HPC is used as a support matrix for DNA separations by capillary and microchip electrophoresis.</p>

<p>A linear β-(1,4)-galactan from Acacia gum. Other linear β-(1,4)-galactans have been isolated from lemon peel, potato tubers and Norwegian spruce compresssion wood.</p>

<p>Water thickener; rheological control additive; has industrial appplications</p>

<p>Xyloglucans are members of a group of polysaccharides typically refered to as hemicelluloses. Hemicelluloses are plant cell wall polysaccharides that are not solubilized by water but are solubilized by aqueous alkali (e.g. 1 and 4M KOH). Other hemicellulosic polysaccharides include xylan, glucuronoxylan, arabinoxylan, mannan, glucomannan and galactoglucomannan. Hemicelluloses have a backbone of 1,4-linked β-D-pyranosyl residues in which O4 is in the equatorial orientation (e.g. Glc, Man, and Xyl). Xyloglucan is the predominant hemicellulose in the primary walls of dicots and non-graminaceous monocots and may account for up to 20% of the dry weight of the primary wall. Xyloglucan has a backbone composed of 1,4-linked β-D-Glcp residues. Up to 75% of these residues are substituted at O6 with mono-, di-, or triglycosyl side chains.</p>

<p>Fluorescein isothiocyanate carboxymethyl dextran (FITC-CM Dextran) has been reported to provide a valuable carrier for nanoparticles of iron oxide.  These products provide a potent tool for contrast enhancement in magnetic resonance imaging.</p>

<p>The extracellular polysaccharide produced by Arthrobacter stabilis NRRL B-3225 contains D-glucose, D-galactose, pyruvic acid, O-succinyl, and O-acetyl in the approximate molar ratio of 6:3:1:1:1.5. Succinyl is linked as its half-ester, making it readily removable. The viscosity of aqueous, salt-free solutions of both native and deacylated polymer is relatively low, but atypical of anionic polysaccharides, increases rapidly in the presence of salts, acids, or alkali.</p>

<p>Fluorescein isothiocyanate carboxymethyl dextran (FITC-CM Dextran) has been reported to provide a valuable carrier for nanoparticles of iron oxide.  These products provide a potent tool for contrast enhancement in magnetic resonance imaging.</p>

<p>Ulvans are structural polysaccharides present in the cell walls of green algae such as Ulva armoricana, Ulva rotondata, Ulva rigida, Ulva lacterca and Ulva pertusa. They are highly sulphated and contain rhamnose 3-sulphate, xylose, xylose 2-sulphate, glucuronic acid and iduronic acid residues.  Ulvan has several potentially valuable functionalities such as gel formation for agricultural and food applications. It has also an anticoagulant, antioxidant, antihyperlipidemic and antitumor activities that are attractive for pharmaceutical applications.<br>The image was kindly provided by Prof Mike Guiry from Cork who runs ‘The Seaweed Site’.</p>

<p>In water, hydroxypropyl cellulose forms liquid crystals with many mesophases depending on concentration. These mesophases include isotropic, anisotropic, nematic and cholesteric, the latter resulting in many colors such as violet, green and red. Pharmaceutical applications include treatments for medical conditions such as dry eye syndrome (keratoconjunctivitis sicca), recurrent corneal erosions, decreased corneal sensitivity, exposure and neuroparalytic keratitis. It is also used as a binder in tablets. Hydroxypropylcellulose is also used as a thickener, a binder and emulsion stabiliser in foods with E number E463.  HPC is used as a support matrix for DNA separations by capillary and microchip electrophoresis.</p>

<p>A fucan sulphate found in brown marine algae (Phaeophyta-typically Fucus vesiculotus, Ascophyllum nodosum, Alaria and Lessonia nigrescens (illustrated) and has been shown to have anticoagulant activity. The main constituents are α-1,4 and α-1,2 linked L-fucose sulphates although galactose also occurs and there are many variations of the basic structure found in different species of Phaeophyta.<br>The fucose content is approx. 26.2% and it also contains galactose (approx. 13.0%), uronic acid (approx. 13.0%) and sulfate (approx. 29.1%).<br>The image was kindly provided by Prof Mike Guiry from Cork who runs ‘The Seaweed Site’.</p>

<p>Please enquire for more information about (Hydroxypropyl)methyl cellulose, viscosity 5 cP 80%-120%, 2% aqueous solution including the price, delivery time and more detailed product information at the technical inquiry form on this page</p>

<p>Welan gum is a microbial polysaccharide produced by a species of Alcaligenes and shows interesting rheological properties of use in the oil and agricultural industries. The structure is similar to gellan based on repeating glucose, rhamnose and glucuronic acid units but with a single side chain of either an α-L-rhamnopyranosyl or an α-L-mannopyranosyl unit linked (1,3) to the 4-O-substituted β-D-glucopyranosyl unit in the backbone.</p>

<p>Quaternization of the primary amine in N-Trimethylchitosan increases the water solubility of chitosan and keeps chitosan soluble over a wide pH range. N-Trimethylchitosan is soluble in water and ethanol, making it ideal for use in biotechnology applications.The degree of quaternization is 30-70%</p>

<p>Tamarind gum comes from the seed of the tamarind tree Tamarindus indica and is used in the food industry as a stabiliser and an emulsifier. It has been suggested that the structure is a main chain of cellulose with frequent branching at the O-6 positions with short side chains of one or two D-xylopyranosyl capped with D-xylopyranosyl, D-galactopyranosyl or L-arabinofuranosyl units. In application, tamarind finds use in the sizing of jute and as a stabilizer and thickener in the food industry.</p>

<p>Kappa-Carrageenan is a gelling sulphated galactan extracted from red seaweed (typically Mastocarpus stellata and Chondrus crispus). The structure of all carrageenans consists of a strictly alternating masked repeating unit of 1,3-linked α-D-galactose and 1,4-linked β-D-galactose. The α-linked galactose occurs as α-3-6-anhydro unit and the β-linked sugar occurs as the 4-sulphate.<br>The image was kindly provided by Prof Mike Guiry from Cork who runs ‘The Seaweed Site’.</p>

<p>β-1,3-Glucan is a bioactive polysaccharide, which is located predominantly in the cell walls of yeast, fungi, and certain cereals. This compound is characterized by its unique branched structure, which is crucial for its biological function. The mode of action of β-1,3-Glucan involves the binding to specific receptors on immune cells, such as dectin-1, which triggers a cascade of immune responses. This interaction enhances the activity of macrophages, neutrophils, and natural killer cells, thus bolstering the body's innate immune defenses.The uses and applications of β-1,3-Glucan are broad, primarily focused on immunological research and potential therapeutic strategies. It is extensively utilized in studies examining its effects as an immunomodulator, leveraging its ability to potentiate immune system function and examining its role in adjunctive cancer therapies, where it may enhance the efficacy of certain treatments. Additionally, β-1,3-Glucan is investigated for its potential benefits in reducing infection rates and improving recovery times in clinical settings. Moreover, its applications in dietary supplements and functional foods continue to be a subject of scientific inquiry, aiming to harness its health-promoting properties within nutrition science.</p>

<p>Gum Jhingan is a modified carbohydrate with a fluorinated saccharide. It is an oligosaccharide that has been synthesized from the sugar galactose. Gum Jhingan is a high-purity, custom-synthesized product that has been methylated and glycosylated. The modification process of this carbohydrate includes fluorination and click chemistry.</p>

<p>Cellulose is a linear polysaccharide of β 1-4 linked glucose residues. The polysaccharide chains are bundled as microfibrils in cell walls and provide the essential structural components within growing plants. Each microfibril exhibits a high degree of three-dimensional internal bonding resulting in a crystalline structure that is insoluble in water, resistant to reagents and very strong. The crystalline region of cellulose is isolated to produce microcrystalline cellulose. Microcrystalline cellulose is a term for refined wood pulp and is used as a texturizer, an anti-caking agent, a fat substitute, an emulsifier, an extender, and a bulking agent in food production.</p>

<p>Poria cocos is an edible medicinal fungus known as “Fuling” in Chinese that has been used as a Chinese traditional medicine for more than two thousand years. Polysaccharide material is the most abundant organic substance in the fungus, accounting for about 85% of the total and is a mixture of polysaccharides with the major component being Pachyman, a β-glucan with a 1,3 backbone and 1,6 side chains. It is reported that Pachyman has a wide range of biological activities including antitumour, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties. Pachyman is a beta-glucan with a 1,3 backbone and 1,6 side chains of fungal origin (Poria cocos).<br>The image was kindly provided by Dr. Chris Lawson.</p>

<p>Danaparoid sodium (the active pharmaceutical ingredient in Orgaran; Merck Sharp and Dohme) is a biopolymeric non-heparin drug that is used as anticoagulant and antithrombotic agent, approved for the prophylaxis of postoperative deep-vein thrombosis.  It consists of a mixture of three glycosaminoglycans: heparan sulphate, dermatan sulphate, and chondroitin sulphate.  Danaparoid, has well established antithrombotic activity. The drug has a high antifactor Xa to antifactor IIa (thrombin) activity ratio, a low tendency to cause bleeding and minimal effects on the fibrinolytic system.</p>

<p>Cellulose acetate fiber is one of the earliest synthetic fibers and is based on cotton or tree pulp cellulose. Cellulose acetate is used as a film base in photography, as a component in some coatings, and as a frame material for eyeglasses.  It is also used as a synthetic fiber in the manufacture of cigarette filters and playing cards. In photographic film, cellulose acetate replaced nitrate film in the 1950s, being far less flammable and cheaper to produce but in recent years has been rendered obsolete by the advent of digital cameras.</p>

<p>DEAE-Dextran (DEAE-D) is a positively-charged dextran derivative that can be used for vaccine production, gene therapy, protein stabilisation, dyslipidemia prevention, flocculating agents, and many other applications. DEAE-D is also used for transfecting animal cells with foreign DNA.  DEAE-Sepharose, DEAE-650 and DEAE-Sephadex are commonly used in chromatography for the separation of biological molecules such as proteins and carbohydrates.</p>

<p>Viscoelastic polymer; excipient; food additive</p>

<p>Complex glucan (a 1-6) from Leuconostoc spp.; extender in blood transfusions</p>

<p>Porphyran is an agar-like polysaccharide with a linear backbone consisting of 3 linked β-D-galactosyl units alternating with either 4-linked α-L-galactosyl 6-sulphate or 3-6-anhydro-α-L-galactosyl units.The composition includes 6-O-sulphated L-galactose, 6-O-methylated D-galactose, L-galactose, 3,6-anhydro-L-galactose, 6-O-methyl D-galactose and ester sulphate. Some of the ester is present as 1,4-linked L-galactose 6-sulphate. The precise composition of porphyran shows seasonal and environmental variations. Porphyran is not used commercially, but the seaweed, Porphyra umbilicalis, is edible and is consumed in Wales (Laver). It is also made into a delicacy called Laverbread.<br>The image was kindly provided by Prof Mike Guiry from Cork who runs ‘The Seaweed Site’.</p>

<p>Ex algal/bacterial polysaccharides-value in b1-3 glucanase assays &amp; diagnostics</p>