Direct observation and structural investigation of galactomannans by transmission electron microscope

Galactomannans isolated from the seeds of Ceratonia siliqua, Itelicise tetr agonoloba and Sophora japonica have been studied directly by transmission e lectron microscope and the fine structures of these galactomannans investig ated. Although all the three types of galactomannans are linear, they can b e distinguished from one another easily under transmission electron microsc ope. The results indicate that the fine structures of galactomannans vary w ith their origin. Generally, galactomannan from guar is nonblock-type, thei r alpha -D-galactose side-chains are disposed basically regular; but not un iformly. Unlike guar gum, the galactomannans from sophora bean gum and locu st bean gum have block-type dispositions which are composed of alternately distributed smooth zone and hair zone but the smooth zone of locust bean gu m is longer than that sophora bean gum.