Zymosans

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of polysaccharide derived from yeast cell walls used in biological processes
2. It serves as a source of nutrients in fermentation and acts as a thickening agent in food products
3. This substance is often utilized in biotechnological applications for its structural properties and biological activity

Etymology: "Zymosans" is the plural of "zymosan," a noun for a polysaccharide extracted from the cell walls of yeast and used in biological and immunological work. The plural form refers to several such preparations or substances of this kind. The base word is built from the Greek "zymē," meaning leaven or ferment, which is also the root of "enzyme" and related terms in biochemistry, with the suffix "-an" added to name a carbohydrate of this type.