Polysaccharides: Molecular and Supramolecular Structures. Terminology.

This chapter summarises important issues about the molecular and supramolecular structure of polysaccharides. It describes the terminology of polysaccharides systematically. The polysaccharides are divided regarding the molecular structures in glucans, polyoses, polysaccharides with amino functions, polysaccharides with acid functions and some miscellaneous. The most important glucans cellulose, (1 → 3)-β-d-glucans, starch, glycogen, dextran and pullulan are discussed. For polyoses, xylans, mannans, xyloglucans and mixed-linkage β-glucans are described. Polysaccharides with amino functions include the description of chitin and chitosan, hyaluronan or hyaluronic acid, glycosaminoglycans and murein. The polysaccharides with acid functions are described including pectins, alginates, agar-agar and carrageenan. Moreover, inulin, levan and xanthan gum are described