galactan

[guh-lak-tuhn, -tan]

noun

Biochemistry.

1. any of the class of hexosans, as agar, that yield galactose upon hydrolysis.

Word History and Origins

Origin of galactan¹

From German, dating back to 1885–90; galact-, -ane

Example Sentences

Schultze and Maxwell state that raw coffee contains galactan, mannan, and pentosans, the latter present to the extent of 5 percent in raw and 3 percent in roasted coffee.

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