Amylopectin distribution

FIGURE 16.19 Degree of polymerization distribution (m dpD d) of wild-type potatoe starch ( ), a nb/lcb fraction ( amylose -type A)- s b fraction ( amylopectin"-type ) of the native starch ... 

The labile nature of the components necessitates that, for fundamental investigations, the starch should preferably be extracted from its botanical source, in the laboratory, under the mildest possible conditions.26 Industrial samples of unknown origin and treatment should not be used. The characterization of the starch would appear to entail (1) dissolution of the granule without degradation, (2) fractionation without degradation, (3) complete analysis of the finer details of structure of the separated components (including the possibilities of intermediate structures between the extremes of amylose and amylopectin), and (4) the estimation of the size, shape, and molecular-weight distribution of these fractions. 

These synthetic linear and branched molecules may be important as type polymers, particularly if the interconversion of amylose to amylopectin is intramolecular, in which case the initial molecular weight and molecular-weight distribution would be retained. There is the possibility that the in vitro synthesis may even result in a truly three-dimensional structure, as distinct from that of the natural component. 

FIGURE 5.1 Cluster model of amylopectin. A and B denote nomenclature of branch chains, 0=reducing end, c.l. = chain length in degree of polymerization. Reprinted from Carbohydrate Research, Vol. 147, Hizukuri (1986), Polymodal distribution of the chain lengths of amylopectin, and its significance, Pages 342-347, with permission from Elsevier. 

Hizukuri, S. (1986). Polymodal distribution of the chain lengths of amylopectin, and its significance. Carbohydr. Res. 147,342-347. 

Hanashiro, L, Tagawa, M., Shibahara, S., Iwata, K., Takeda, Y. (2002). Examination of molar-based distribution of A, B and C chains of amylopectin by fluorescent labeling with 2-ami nopyridine. Carbohyd. Res., 337, 1211-1215. 

Hizukuri, S. (1985). Relationship between the distribution of the chain length of amylopectin and the crystalline structure of starch granules. Carbohydr. Res., 141,295-306. 

Most potato starches are composed of a mixture of two polysaccharides, a linear fraction, amylose, and a highly branched fraction, amylopectin. The content of amylose is between 15 and 25% for most starches. The ratio of amylose to amylopectin varies from one starch to another. The two polysaccharides are homoglucans with only two types of chain linkage, a-(l 4) in the main chain and a-(l 6)-linked branch chains. Physicochemical properties of potato and its starch are believed to be influenced by amylose and amylopectin content, molecular weight, and molecular weight distribution, chain length and its distribution, and phosphorus content (Jane and Chen, 1992). 

Richardson, S., Nilsson, G. S., Bergquist, K., Gorton, L., Mischnick, P. (2000). Characterisation of the substituent distribution in hydroxypropylated potato amylopectin starch. Carbohydr. Res., 328, 365-373. 

Richardson, S., Nilsson, G., Cohen, A., Momcilovic, D., Brinkmalm, G., Lo Gorton, G. (2003). Enzyme-aided investigation of the substituent distribution in cationic potato amylopectin starch. Anal. Chem., 75, 6499-6508. 

The investigations carried out by Professor French and his students were based on sound experimental approaches and on intuitive theoretical considerations. The latter often resulted in new experiments for testing a hypothesis. On the basis of theoretical considerations, Professor French proposed a model for the structure of the amylopectin molecule, and the distribution of the linear chains in this molecule. This model was tested by utilizing enzymes that selectively cleave the linear chains, and the results substantiated the theoretical deductions. He proposed a theory on the nature and types of reactions occurring in the formation of the enzyme - starch complex during the hydrolysis of starch by amylases. In this theory, the idea of multiple attack per single encounter of enzyme with substrate was advanced. The theory has been supported by results from several types of experiments on the hydrolysis of starch with human salivary and porcine pancreatic amylases. The rates of formation of products, and the nature of the products of the action of amylase on starch, were determined at reaction conditions of unfavorable pH, elevated temperatures, and increased viscosity. The nature of the products was found to be dramatically affected by the conditions utilized for the enzymic hydrolysis, and could be accounted for by the theory of the multiple attack per single encounter of substrate and enzyme. 

A second very widely distributed polysaccharide is starch, which is stored in the seeds, roots, and fibers of plants as a food reserve — a potential source of glucose. The chemical composition of starch varies with the source, but in any one starch there are two structurally different polysaccharides. Both consist entirely of glucose units, but one is a linear structure (amylose) and the other is a branched structure (amylopectin). 

Mutations of SSIIa have been observed in wheat and rice.208 In wheat, each of the three wheat genomes were mutated to entirely eliminate expression of the SSIIa gene product, Sgp-1 protein in one line 209 the result was reduced starch amounts and an altered starch structure. In rice, two classes of starch have been found. In Indica rices, the starch is of the long chain variety, while in Japonica, it is of the short chain variety.208 Genetic analysis showed that the mutation in Japonica rice led to a loss of starch synthase II.209 Thus, in higher plants, it seems that loss of SSII activity in dicots and SSIIa activity in monocots have the same results with respect to reduced starch content, due to a lowered amount of amylopectin and altered amylopectin chain size distribution. Thus, these genes may have the same function in starch biosynthesis. 

---