Polysaccharides: Molecular and Supramolecular Structures. Terminology.

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