ABSTRACT
References................................................................................................................58
Mixed-linkage (1
→
3),(1
→
4) linear
β
-D-glucans (
β
-glucans) are major components of endosperm cell walls of commercially important cereals such as barley, oat, wheat, rye, sorghum, and rice. Cereal
β
-glucans are linear homopolysaccharides composed of D-glucopyranosyl residues (Glc
p
) linked via a mixture of
β
-(1
→
3) and
β
-(1
→
4) linkages. The structure features the presence of consecutive (1
→
4)-linked
β
-Dglucose in blocks (i.e., oligomeric cellulose segments) that are separated by single (1
→
3) linkage. Although most of the cellulose segments are trimers and tetramers, longer cellulosic oligosaccharides are also present in the polymeric chains.
