Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Oligosaccharide Assembly01:24

Oligosaccharide Assembly

2.6K
Protein glycosylation starts in the ER lumen and continues in the Golgi apparatus. Glycosyltransferases catalyze the addition of sugar molecules or glycosylation of proteins. Usually, these enzymes add sugars to the hydroxyl groups of selected serine or threonine residues to form O-linked glycans or the amino groups of asparagine residues to form N-linked glycans. Different positions on the same polypeptide chain can contain differently linked glycans.
Multiple sugar molecules that may or may...
2.6K
Chemistry of Carbohydrates03:25

Chemistry of Carbohydrates

67.8K
Carbohydrates are an essential part of the diet in humans and animals. Grains, fruits, and vegetables are natural sources of carbohydrates that provide energy to the body, particularly through glucose, a simple sugar that is a component of starch and an ingredient in many staple foods. The stoichiometric formula (CH2O)n, where n is the number of carbons in the molecule represents carbohydrates. In other words, the ratio of carbon to hydrogen to oxygen is 1:2:1 in carbohydrate molecules. This...
67.8K
Proteoglycans01:05

Proteoglycans

4.0K
Glycans, a class of complex heterogeneous molecules, can be covalently attached to proteins to form glycosylated proteins that regulate various physiological and pathological processes. Glycosylated proteins or glycoproteins comprise N-linked and O-linked oligosaccharides. O-glycosylation is the most common type of protein glycosylation. Here, glycans attach to the oxygen atom of the hydroxyl groups of Serine or Threonine residues. O-linked glycosylation occurs later in protein processing,...
4.0K
Glycosaminoglycans01:23

Glycosaminoglycans

6.4K
Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), also known as mucopolysaccharides, are long and linear polymers comprising of specific repeating disaccharides - the amino sugar that can be N-acetylglucosamine or N-acetylgalactosamine, and a uronic acid that is usually glucuronic acid or iduronic acid.
GAGS are found in the extracellular matrix of vertebrates, invertebrates, and bacteria. Due to their polar nature they attract water, and serve as excellent lubricants or shock absorbers in an animal body.
Hyaluronic...
6.4K
Biosynthesis of Polysaccharides01:26

Biosynthesis of Polysaccharides

914
Polysaccharides such as glycogen and starch are synthesized from nucleoside diphosphate sugars, primarily uridine diphosphate glucose (UDPG) and adenosine diphosphate glucose (ADPG). These activated glucose donors act as key intermediates in carbohydrate metabolism and biosynthesis. UDPG primarily involves glycogen synthesis in animals and many bacteria, while ADPG plays a fundamental role in starch synthesis in plants and certain bacteria.UDPG is formed when glucose-1-phosphate reacts with...
914
Cellulose and Pectic Polysaccharides01:15

Cellulose and Pectic Polysaccharides

3.6K
 Every plant cell has a cell wall that protects the cell, provides structural support, and gives the cell shape. Cellulose, the main structural component of the plant cell wall, makes up over 30% of plant matter. It is the most abundant organic compound on earth.  Cellulose is an unbranched polysaccharide composed of linear chains of glucose molecules linked by β (1→4) glycosidic bonds.
As a cell matures, its cell wall specializes according to its type. For example, the...
3.6K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Ginseng marc-derived low-molecular-weight neutral glucan SN-GOS ameliorates ulcerative colitis via inhibition of apoptosis and activation of autophagy in human intestinal HT-29 cells and DSS-induced inflammatory colitis mice.

Carbohydrate research·2026
Same author

Preparation of fucose-containing galacto-oligosaccharides using a commercial β-galactosidase from Bifidobacterium bifidum.

Carbohydrate research·2026
Same author

UHF-ECG Outperforms QRS Duration and Morphology in Predicting Responders to Biventricular Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy.

JACC. Clinical electrophysiology·2026
Same author

Interplay between NRF2 post-translational modifications and protein-protein interactions: Perspectives from emerging structural and functional evidence.

Archives of biochemistry and biophysics·2026
Same author

Physical processing of clementine pomace: effects on bioactive compounds and cell wall polysaccharides.

International journal of biological macromolecules·2025
Same author

Evaluation of I-optimal and Box-Behnken designs for green extraction of pectins using NADES from carrot pomace.

Carbohydrate polymers·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 21, 2026

Determination of Glucan Chain Length Distribution of Glycogen Using the Fluorophore-Assisted Carbohydrate Electrophoresis FACE Method
06:13

Determination of Glucan Chain Length Distribution of Glycogen Using the Fluorophore-Assisted Carbohydrate Electrophoresis FACE Method

Published on: March 31, 2022

3.4K

Structural analysis of glucans.

Andriy Synytsya1, Miroslav Novak1

  • 1Department of Carbohydrates and Cereals, Institute of Chemical Technology, Prague, Czech Republic.

Annals of Translational Medicine
|October 22, 2014
PubMed
Summary

Glucans, widespread natural polysaccharides, exhibit diverse structures. Advanced spectroscopic and separation methods, including NMR and chromatography, are crucial for their precise structural elucidation and purity assessment.

Keywords:
GlucansNMR spectroscopychemolytic methodsmolecular weightpuritystructurevibration spectroscopy

More Related Videos

Structural Characterization of Mannan Cell Wall Polysaccharides in Plants Using PACE
11:06

Structural Characterization of Mannan Cell Wall Polysaccharides in Plants Using PACE

Published on: October 16, 2017

11.1K
Isolation and Purification of Fungal β-Glucan as an Immunotherapy Strategy for Glioblastoma
10:02

Isolation and Purification of Fungal β-Glucan as an Immunotherapy Strategy for Glioblastoma

Published on: June 2, 2023

2.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 21, 2026

Determination of Glucan Chain Length Distribution of Glycogen Using the Fluorophore-Assisted Carbohydrate Electrophoresis FACE Method
06:13

Determination of Glucan Chain Length Distribution of Glycogen Using the Fluorophore-Assisted Carbohydrate Electrophoresis FACE Method

Published on: March 31, 2022

3.4K
Structural Characterization of Mannan Cell Wall Polysaccharides in Plants Using PACE
11:06

Structural Characterization of Mannan Cell Wall Polysaccharides in Plants Using PACE

Published on: October 16, 2017

11.1K
Isolation and Purification of Fungal β-Glucan as an Immunotherapy Strategy for Glioblastoma
10:02

Isolation and Purification of Fungal β-Glucan as an Immunotherapy Strategy for Glioblastoma

Published on: June 2, 2023

2.8K

Area of Science:

  • Carbohydrate Chemistry
  • Biochemistry
  • Analytical Chemistry

Background:

  • Glucans are abundant natural polysaccharides with varied molecular weights and configurations.
  • Their structural diversity arises from different anomeric structures (α, β, mixed) and glycosidic linkages.
  • Isolation requires removing impurities like proteins, lipids, and other polysaccharides.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To outline methods for glucan structural analysis and purity control.
  • To highlight the importance of rigorous characterization for understanding glucan properties.
  • To review spectroscopic and separation techniques applicable to glucan research.

Main Methods:

  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy for detailed structural analysis.
  • Chemolytic methods such as methylation analysis (MA) and hydrolysis.
  • Vibrational spectroscopy (FTIR, Raman) for anomeric structure and purity.
  • Size-Exclusion Chromatography (SEC), Laser Light Scattering (LLS), and viscometry for molecular characteristics.

Main Results:

  • NMR is a powerful tool for elucidating glucan structures in solution and solid states.
  • Chemolytic and NMR methods can determine precise polysaccharide structures.
  • Spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques enable purity control and molecular weight estimation.

Conclusions:

  • Comprehensive structural analysis of glucans is essential for understanding their biological roles and applications.
  • A combination of analytical techniques ensures accurate characterization of glucan purity and structure.
  • Advanced methods are vital for distinguishing between different glucan types and their properties.