GOOD TO KNOW

BETA-GLUCANS: THE BEST TYPE OF POLYSACCHARIDE

Mushrooms (or basidiomycetes) contain many different forms of polysaccharides but the most important compounds are identified as the beta-D-glucans. Beta-glucans come in various forms. The main one has what is known as 1-3,1-6 branching, or (1-3)(1-6) beta-D-glucans. This refers to the structural characteristics with particular designations (1-3) describing the linking pattern in the long-chain molecule. (1-3)(1-6) beta-D-glucans are specific to fungi and yeast. Oats and grains also contain beta-glucans but they have a different branching structure, which is (1-4)-beta-glucans.