Functions of Mannan

Mannan is a macromolecular polysaccharide substance, which is made of many monosaccharides chemically bonded together. Mannans are widely present in life and have a variety of important biological functions. There are important links between mannans and immune cell signaling, tumor immunity, and cosmetics. It has been shown that the immunomodulatory effects of mannans are related to the structure of their side chains. In addition, mannans bind to the cell wall, forming basal junctions and differentiating between cells of different species.

Fig.1 The probable structure of mannan. (CD BioGlyco)

Mannan Analysis Service at CD BioGlyco

CD BioGlyco has become proficient in the Analysis of Polysaccharides, and as a result, we offer our clients a comprehensive range of mannan analysis services. These services include but are not limited to:

• Analyze the purity of mannan using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
• Analyze the molecular weight and molecular weight distribution of mannan using gel permeation chromatography (GPC).
• Use a scanning electron microscope (SEM) to observe the appearance and shape of mannan particles.
• Determine the conductivity, and salinity of mannan using a conductivity meter.
• Determine the structure of mannan using infrared spectrum (IR), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and methylation.

Fig.2 Analysis methods of mannan. (CD BioGlyco)

Case Study

Background

Mannan, a complex polysaccharide composed of β-1,4-linked mannose residues, is a major structural hemicellulose in plant cell walls and a crucial functional polymer in softwoods, seeds, and fungal matrices. Accurate quantification of mannan and its co-existing glycan polymers is highly essential for assessing biofuel efficiency, animal nutrition, and wood chemistry. However, because native mannan is deeply embedded in crystalline lignocellulosic networks, achieving absolute depolymerization without over-hydrolyzing and destroying the liberated monomeric sugars represents a severe technical challenge. Standard analytical assays frequently overlook processing sugar degradation, leading to underestimations of total glycan yields.

Our Solution

CD BioGlyco deployed an optimized, strictly calibrated two-stage selective acid hydrolysis combined with high-resolution chromatographic characterization to deliver an absolute compositional fingerprint of the biomass matrix.

• Optimized Pre-extraction & Concentrated Primary Hydrolysis: Prior to matrix breakdown, biological samples underwent exhaustive sequential water and ethanol pre-extractions to eliminate interfering soluble metabolites. The purified residue was treated with concentrated (72%) sulfuric acid (H2SO4) at a highly regulated temperature of 30°C. Intermittent automated agitation ensured complete chemical maceration and initial decrystallization of the resilient mannan infrastructure.
• Secondary Thermal Hydrolysis & Dynamic Degradation Correction (SRS): To achieve full monomeric depolymerization, the solution was precisely diluted and subjected to high-pressure thermal cleavage via autoclaving at 121°C. Crucially, parallel Sugar Recovery Solution (SRS) controls containing known concentration sugar matrix standards were introduced into the same autoclave cycle. This allowed our team to accurately monitor, trace, and mathematically compensate for any volatile monosaccharide loss during the high-temperature stage.
• Internal Standard Calibration & Chromatographic Profiling: Following microfiltration to isolate acid-insoluble residues, the resulting carbohydrate hydrolysate was stabilized and spiked with a high-purity Fucose solution serving as an internal standard. This mixture was directly subjected to advanced liquid chromatography to resolve individual sugar profiles with superior injection-to-injection reproducibility.

Results

By integrating the raw chromatographic peak areas with the precise calibration coefficients derived from the internal fucose standard and the SRS recovery factors, all matrix background variations were successfully eliminated. The optimized workflow delivered an exhaustive, high-fidelity mass profile that simultaneously resolved and quantified seven critical glycan components:

• Target Mannan Content: Successfully isolated and determined with extreme quantitative precision.
• Co-existing Structural Glycans: Complete parallel elucidation of Glucan, Xylan, Arabinan, Galactan, and Rhamnan.
• Mass Balance Validation: Compilation of total absolute sugar yields, providing an airtight quantitative mass balance for the raw feedstock.

Table 1 Mannan content. (CD BioGlyco)

Publication

Paper Title: Structure and properties of konjac glucomannan / galactoglucomannan nanofiber membrane

Technology: SEM analysis

Journal: Macromol. Res.

Published: 2017

Results: Structure is an important factor in determining the use of nanofiber membranes. Nanofiber membranes' surface morphology showed its basic structure. SEM can be used to observe the surface morphology of microscopic objects more directly, the surface structures of the konjac glucomannan(KGM) and KGM/galactoglucomannan (GGM) nanofiber membranes were observed through SEM (Fig.3).

Fig.3(a) shows that 1.2% KGM nanofiber membrane prepared with KGM spinning solution was heavily tangled, with uneven fiber diameter and severe nanofiber breakage. This observation could be a result of the wet conductive adhesive used and structural collapse after the KGM nanofiber membrane rapidly absorbed water. In Fig.3(b), the KGM/GGM nanofiber membrane (KG1) exhibited a relative uniformity in fiber diameter when the amount of GGM solution added was 10 mL, and the KG1 nanofiber membrane did not dissolve quickly after absorption of water. However, numerous entangled and broken nanofibers were still observed. Fig.3(c) shows that the prepared nanofiber membrane (KG2) significantly reduced fiber entanglement and showed uniformity in fiber diameter, even and fine appearance when the amount of the GGM solution added was 20 mL.

Fig.3 SEM images and nanofiber diameter of (a) KG0, (b) KG1, (c) KG2, and (d) KG3, nanofiber membranes. (Yuan, et al., 2017)

Applications

• Mannan analysis services can be used in the development of food preservatives.
• In the pharmaceutical field, the analysis of mannan can be used in the production research of blood pressure-lowering drugs.
• In the industrial field, the analysis of mannan can be used in the research and development of adhesives.

Advantages

• Our analysis methods are suitable for the production of mannans in large quantities.
• We provide not only mannan structural analysis services but also their purification analysis.
• Our research team is highly efficient and we also provide specific analytical solutions for our clients.

CD BioGlyco has top-notch laboratory techniques and is experienced in the analysis of polysaccharides. We provide comprehensive mannan analysis services. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.

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