laminaritriose

Laminaritriose is a trisaccharide composed of three β-D-glucose units linked by β-1,3 glycosidic bonds. Its systematic name is β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-D-glucopyranose. It represents a short fragment of the β-1,3-glucan family and is a reducing sugar with a free anomeric carbon at the reducing end.

Natural occurrence and production: Laminaritriose occurs as a hydrolysis product of laminarin, a storage polysaccharide found in brown algae (Phaeophyceae), including genera such as Laminaria. It can be produced industrially by acid or enzymatic hydrolysis of laminarin, or synthesized chemically for research purposes.

Chemistry and biological relevance: As a β-1,3-linked oligosaccharide, laminaritriose is used as a model substrate in studies of enzymes that act on β-1,3-glucans, such as endo-β-1,3-glucanases and β-1,3-glucosidases. It helps in examining enzyme chain-length preferences, kinetic parameters, and product profiles. Analytical characterization typically involves carbohydrate analysis methods such as high-performance liquid chromatography after appropriate derivatization.

Relationship and context: Laminaritriose is part of a broader family of laminarin-derived oligosaccharides, which also includes laminaribiose (the disaccharide). It serves as a useful, well-defined substrate for comparative studies of β-1,3-glucan metabolism and enzymology.