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 Chemical structure of agaropectin, where R is a predominantly H or SO3H | |
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Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in theirstandard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). | |
Agaropectin is one of the two main components ofagar.
Agaropectin is a sulfatedgalactan mixture which composes agar by 30% composition.[1] It is composed of varying percentages oforganosulfates (sulfate esters),D-glucuronic acid and small amounts ofpyruvic acid. It is made up of alternating units ofD-galactose andL-galactose heavily modified with acidic side-groups which are usuallysulfate,glucuronate, andpyruvate.[2][3][4] Pyruvic acid is possibly attached in an acetal form to theD-galactose residues of the agarobiose skeleton. The sulfate content of the agar depends on the source of the raw material from which it is derived.Acetylation of agaropectin yields the chloroform-insoluble agaropectin acetate, as opposed to agarose acetate. This process can be used to separate the two polysaccharides viafractionation.[5]
Agaropectin has no commercial value and is discarded during the commercial processing of agar, and food grade agar is mainly composed of agarose with a molecular weight of about 120 kDa.[6]