Mannan

For the god of the sea, see Manannan mac Lir. For the Tamil film, see Mannan (film). For the hate crime victim, see Xulhaz Mannan.

Mannan[1] may refer to a plant polysaccharide that is a linear polymer of the sugar mannose. Plant mannans have β(1-4) linkages. It is a form of storage polysaccharide. Ivory nut is a source of mannan.

Mannan may also refer to a cell wall polysaccharide found in yeasts. This type of mannan has a α(1-6) linked backbone and α(1-2) and α(1-3) linked branches. It is serologically similar to structures found on mammalian glycoproteins. Detection of mannan leads to lysis in the mannan-binding lectin pathway. This mannan is the source of MOS used as prebiotics in animal husbandry and nutritional supplements.

Etymology

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

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mannan.

References

  1. Mannan at the US National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
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