The structure of a beta-(1--6)-D-glucan from yeast cell walls

By selective enzymolysis, or chemical fractionation, a minor polysaccharide component has been isolated from yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) glucan. This minor component has a degree of polymerization of about 130-140, a highly branched structure, and a high proportion of beta-(1-->6)-glucosidic linkages. The molecules also contain a smaller proportion of beta-(1-->3)-glucosidic linkages that serve mainly as interchain linkages, but some may also be inter-residue linkages.