Mannans

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.[1][2] 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).

  1. ^ Moreira, L. R. S.; Filho, E. X. F. (2008). "An overview of mannan structure and mannan-degrading enzyme systems". Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 79 (2): 165–178. doi:10.1007/s00253-008-1423-4. PMID 18385995. S2CID 9746196.
  2. ^ Mannan at the U.S. National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)