Polisaccaridi

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>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>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>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>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>Gycosaminoglycan in many organs; joint lubricant and shock absorber.  Made by a bacterial, Streptococcus fermentation.</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>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>Viscoelastic polymer; excipient; food additive</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>Complex glucan (a 1-6) from Leuconostoc spp.; extender in blood transfusions</p>

<p>Ex algal/bacterial polysaccharides-value in b1-3 glucanase assays &amp; diagnostics</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. The image was kindly provided by Prof Mike Guiry from Cork who runs ‘The Seaweed Site’.

<p>Applications Verbascose (CAS# 546-62-3) is an α-galactooligosaccharide with immunomodulatory activity in mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells.<br>References Dai, Z.; et al.: J. Agric. Food. Chem., 66, 9070 (2018);<br></p>

<p>Bacterial exopolysaccharide from gram negative Bacillus polymixa</p>

<p>An apiose-rich pectic polysaccharide zosterin is found in the sea grass Zostera marina and is typical of similar structures occurring in higher plants. The structure consists of an α-1,4-D-galactopyranosyluronan backbone substituted by 1,2-linked apiofuranose oligosaccharides and single apiose residues. The average molecular mass of the polysaccharide has been shown to be about 4100 Da with a low polydispersity.</p>