Alpha and beta glucans are polysaccharides present in Agaricus blazei that are most responsible for modulating the immune system. These polysaccharides are made of repeating units of D-glucose molecules attached to one another by glycosidic bonds. These polysaccharides come in a large variety of shapes (due to the multiple locations available for glycosidic bonding between D-glucose units) and molecular weights (due to the varying lengths possible for D-glucose polysaccharide chains). Proteins can also be attached to these glucan polysaccharides.
Below is a chart showing different types of beta-glucans. The beta-glucans are differentiated by how the sugar molecules (D-glucose) are attached to one another. The beta-glucan number shows how the sugar molecules are attached to one another. The numeric positions, are based upon the center glucose molecule, with numbering based upon the carbons in a clockwise fashion. The difference between alpha and beta linkages is due to chirality, whether the linking glucose unit is fashioned in an upward or downward position (bold widening lines indicate upward position, while broken lines indicate a downward position).
