What is the structure of Agarose?

Agarose is a polysaccharide that, along with agaropectin, forms Agar. This natural polysaccharide is part of the cell walls of certain red algae, such as the genera Gelidium and Gracilaria, where it plays a structural role. 

Agarose, once separated from agaropectin, is structurally a linear chain formed by β-D-galactopyranose units with 3,6-anhydro-α-L-galactopyranose through 1-4 linkages.  This unit repeats along the chain and is called agarobiose. In this chain, there may be charged groups, which are responsible for many of the properties of agarose.

The gel structure formed by agarose is a macroreticulum stabilized by the formation of hydrogen bonds between the different agarose chains, which gives it high strength, even at low concentrations.

These gels are thermo-reversible, providing an inert, non-toxic matrix with very special properties that make them indispensable in many techniques of cell biology, biochemistry, and molecular biology. Such properties, such as gel strength, pore size, or EEO (electroendosmosis), can be adjusted to meet the specific needs of our clients through careful selection of raw materials.

The most common use is the formation of gels that allow the routine and rapid separation of DNA/RNA fragments, in addition to being used in other techniques such as plasmid preparation or in detection, cloning, and transfer. Additionally, agarose can be used to attach molecules to its structure, such as antibodies or antigens, and in other less common uses, such as repairing damaged tissues.

At Hispanagar, we have a wide catalog of agaroses. Contact us for more information.