Polysaccharides containing allose

Claim 1

A polysaccharide containing allose as a constituent sugar, said polysaccharide having the following identifying characteristics: (a) a molecular weight ranging from about 1×10 4 to about 1×10 7 ; (b) no clear melting point; (c) a content of from about 6 to about 12 mole % allose, from about 50 to about 60 mole % galactose, from about 10 to about 20 mole % glucose, from about 7 to about 14 mole % mannose and from 10 to about 12 mole % glucuronic acid; (d) infra-red spectra showing O-H stretching in the vicinity of 3,400 cm -1 , C--H stretching in the vicinity of 2,890 cm -1 and stretching of carboxylate anions in the vicinity of 1,620 cm -1 due to the orientation of beta-glucosido linkages in the vicinity of 800 cm -1 ; (e) no distinct characteristic ultraviolet absorption spectra; (f) solubility in water but insolubility in methanol, ethanol, ethers and acetone; (g) the following color reactions: anthrone reaction--positive ninhydrin reaction--negative Dische's carbazole reaction--positive Dische's cysteine-sulfuric acid reaction--positive; (h) a specific rotation in water [α] D 25 of from about +30° C.; (i) forms a colorless, transparent and viscous solution with water; and, (j) is aggregated to a gel in an aqueous solution containing calcium ion.