Heptagalacturonic acid

GalAα1-4[GalAα1-4]5GalA

Heptagalacturonic acid is a linear oligosaccharide composed of seven D-galacturonic acid units linked by α-(1,4) glycosidic bonds. It is a key structural fragment of pectin, a complex polysaccharide found in the cell walls of plants. Heptagalacturonic acid is produced when pectin is broken down by enzymes such as pectinases. This compound is used in research to study the structure of pectin and the function of pectin-degrading enzymes.