Hemicellulose is a large
polysaccharide which helps give structure to plant cells. Along with
pectin, it forms an
amorphous matrix in which cellulose
fibrils from the
plant cell walls are embedded. It has the chemical formula of C
6H
10O
5 and consists of a chain of D-
oxylose sugar units which has side chains of units of other sugars branching off it.
From the BioTech Dictionary at http://biotech.icmb.utexas.edu/. For further information see the BioTech homenode.