Glucan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A glucan molecule is a polysaccharide of D-glucose monomers linked by glycosidic bonds. The following are glucans:

• cellulose, β-1,4-glucan
• laminarin, β-1,3- and β-1,6-glucan
• pullulan, α-1,4- and α-1,6-glucan
• starch, α-1,4- and α-1,6-glucan
• glycogen, α-1,4- and α-1,6-glucan
• dextran, α-1,6-glucan
• lichenin

Many beta-glucans are medically important.