Conformation and mobility of the arabinan and galactan side-chains of pectin

Solid-state 13C NMR spectra from hydrated primary cell walls of dicotyledonous plants contained well-resolved peaks assigned to the arabinan and galactan sidechains of pectin. In their thermal mobility and time-averaged conformations, these chains resembled the same polymers in aqueous solution. They may be described by the term 'tethered solutes'.