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Agarose is a polysaccharide found in red algae, typically Gelidium and Gracilaria. It is a strictly alternating polysaccharide of α-1,3 linked D-galactose and β-1,4 linked L-3,6 anhydrogalactose with occasional sulfation at position 6 of the anhydrogalactose residue.

Agaro-oligosaccharides result from cleavage at galactose residues and neoagaro-oligosaccharides from cleavage at 3,6-anhydro residues. Reports have suggested that agaropentaose has neuroprotective properties.