Polysaccharides

Dermatan sulphate is a glycosaminoglycan found in skin, blood vessels, heart valves, tendons, aorta, spleen and brain and is usually isolated from pig skin or beef lung tissue. The disaccharide repeat unit is composed of L-iduronic acid and N-acetyl-galactosamine-4-sulphate linked β-(1,3) and β-(1,4). There are also small amounts of D-glucuronic acid.

The main cell-wall components of baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) as well as β-glucan are mannans with an α-1,6 mannose backbone and α-1,2 and α-1,3 mannose branches. The image was kindly provided by Dr. Chris Lawson.

Glycogen is a highly branched polysaccharide of glucose that serves as a form of energy storage in animals and fungi. It is the main storage form of glucose in the body.  In humans, glycogen is made and stored primarily in liver and muscle cells and functions as the second most important energy storage molecule to fat which is held in adipose tissue. Glycogen is analogous to starch and has a structure similar to amylopectin, but is more extensively branched and compact than starch. It occurs as granules in the cytosol/cytoplasm in many cell types, and plays an important role in the glucose cycle.

Glycogen is a highly branched polysaccharide of glucose that serves as a form of energy storage in animals and fungi. It is the main storage form of glucose in the body.  In humans, glycogen is made and stored primarily in liver and muscle cells and functions as the second most important energy storage molecule to fat which is held in adipose tissue. Glycogen is analogous to starch and has a structure similar to amylopectin, but is more extensively branched and compact than starch. It occurs as granules in the cytosol/cytoplasm in many cell types, and plays an important role in the glucose cycle.

PolyGlycopleX (PGX) is produced from a mixture containing proprietary proportions of three polysaccharides, konjac glucomannan, xanthan gum and sodium alginate.  Recent hydrodynamic, rheological and analytical studies have shown that the unexpectedly high viscosity of solutions of PGX is consistent with an interaction between a konjac glucomannan, xanthan gum complex and sodium alginate to form a new, ternary complex in solution. Human and animal feeding studies have shown that PGX can be used to control weight, lower the glycaemic index of foods and postprandial glycaemia.

Methyl cellulose is a water-soluble polymer that is used as a binder or thickener in pharmaceutical, food, and ceramic processing applications. Methylcellulose has an unusual lower critical solution temperature (LCST) between 40 °C and 50 °C. At temperatures below the LCST it is readily soluble in water; above the LCST it is not soluble, which has a paradoxical effect that heating a saturated solution of methylcellulose will turn it solid, because methylcellulose will precipitate out. The temperature at which this occurs depends on DS-value, with higher DS-values giving lower solubility and lower precipitation temperatures because the polar hydroxyl groups are masked.

Ethyl cellulose is similar in structure to methyl cellulose with ethyl replacing the methyl groups. It is approved for use in regulated markets such as food and pharmaceuticals. In pharmaceuticals it can mask the taste of bitter actives, enhance the strength and appearance of tablets and capsules, and enable controlled release formulations. In food products it functions as a binder, film former and flavour fixative.

β-1,3-Glucan is a carbohydrate compound that exhibits antioxidant activity. It has been shown to inhibit lipid peroxidation and protect cells from oxidative damage. β-1,3-Glucan is derived from various sources such as cellulose and biomass and can be extracted using methods like chloroform extraction. This compound has potential industrial applications in fields such as pharmaceuticals, where it can be used as an excipient or drug delivery agent. Additionally, β-1,3-Glucan has shown promise in agricultural applications due to its ability to enhance plant growth and stimulate the immune system of plants. Research has also indicated that this compound may have antimicrobial properties against certain pathogens. Molecular docking studies have revealed interactions between β-1,3-Glucan and other molecules such as prasugrel, indole-3-acetic acid, resiquimod, and sulfadiazine, suggesting potential synergistic effects or therapeutic applications. Overall, β

Sodium carboxymethyl dextran is a white, odourless and tasteless powder, which is freely soluble in water or electrolyte solutions. Applications that have been described for carboxymethyl dextran include carriers of paramagnetic contrast agents, preparation of conjugates of pharmacologically active compounds and carboxymethyl dextrans in biosensors.  A number of other uses in cosmetics, agriculture, foods, paints and textiles have been the subject of patent applications.

Dextran is α-(1,6)-linked α-D-glucan with α-(1,3)-linked glucose branch points produced by fermentation of Leuconostoc mesenteroides via the action of the enzyme dextransucrase on sucrose.  The main use for native dextran is as an extender in blood transfusions and products having a range of sharp cutoff molecular weights are produced commercially for this and other applications.  A complex of iron with dextran, known as iron dextran, is used as a source of iron for baby piglets which are often anaemic at birth.