Abstract
Specific histochemical staining can be related to specific interactions of dyes and polysaccharides in solution. Specificity evidently depends upon polysaccharide conformation and the need for a close "fit" between polysaccharide and ligand. As a consequence, microscopic identification of cereal beta-(1 leads to 4)(1 leads to 3)-D-glucan and beta-(1 leads to 3)-D-glucan is possible, and is demonstrated.