Galactans


Galactans

 

(C6H10O5)n, where n≈120, higher polysaccharides, occurring in plant tissues as reserve carbohydrates and structural elements of cell walls, as well as in animal tissues. The main elementary units of galactans are pyranose residues of galactose, joined by glycoside bonds between the first through fourth, as well as first through third and first through sixth, carbon atoms. Galactan metabolism has been little studied. Galactans form the carbohydrate part of agar and are a component of pectins and many plant gums, mucilages, and so on.