Glucan

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

cellulose
pullulan
laminarin
starch
glycogen
dextran
lichenin

Medical applications

Glucans form part of the cell wall of certain medically important fungi, including Candida and Aspergillus species. An assay to detect the presence of (1→3)β-D-glucan in the blood has been produced by Fungitell and is marketed as a means of diagnosing invasive fungal infection in patients.

References

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