Mannans

Mannans are polysaccharides that are linear polymers of the sugar mannose.[1]

For other uses, see Mannan.

Types

Plant mannans have β(1-4) linkages, occasionally with α(1-6) galactose branches, forming galactomannans. They are insoluble and a form of storage polysaccharide. Ivory nut is a source of mannans. An additional type is galactoglucomannan found in soft wood with a mixed mannose/glucose β(1-4) backbone.

Yeast and some plants such as conjac and salep have a different type of mannans in their cell wall, with a α(1-6) linked backbone and α(1-2) and α(1-3) linked glucose branches, hence "glucomannan". It is water soluble. It is serologically similar to structures found on mammalian glycoproteins. Detection of mannan leads to lysis in the mannan-binding lectin pathway.

Mannan oligosaccharide

When a long chain of mannan is hydrolyzed into shorter chains, these smaller molecules are known as mannan oligosaccharide (MOS). MOS by definition can be produced from either insoluble galactomannan or soluble glucomannan, although the latter type is more widely marketed.[2]

Glucomannan MOS is used as prebiotics in animal husbandry and nutritional supplements due to its bioactivity.

Etymology

From 'manna', produced by several species of tree and shrub e.g. Fraxinus ornus from whose secretions mannitol was originally isolated.

See also

References
  1. Mannan at the US National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
  2. Nopvichai, C; Charoenwongpaiboon, T; Luengluepunya, N; Ito, K; Muanprasat, C; Pichyangkura, R (2019). "Production and purification of mannan oligosaccharide with epithelial tight junction enhancing activity". PeerJ. 7: e7206. doi:10.7717/peerj.7206. PMID 31304065. MOS is often prepared by hydrolysis reaction of a mannose-contained glucan polymer, mainly glucomannan and galactomannan.
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