Amylose is a polysaccharide made of α-D-glucose units, bonded to each other through α(1→4) glycosidic bonds. It is one of the two components of starch, making up approximately 20–30%. Because of its tightly packed helical structure, amylose is more resistant to digestion than other starch molecules and is therefore an important form of resistant starch.[2]

Amylose
Names
IUPAC name
(1→4)-α-D-Glucopyranan
Identifiers
ChEBI
ChemSpider
  • None
ECHA InfoCard 100.029.702 Edit this at Wikidata
UNII
Properties
Variable
Molar mass Variable
Appearance White powder
Insoluble[1]
Hazards
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
NFPA 704 four-colored diamondHealth 1: Exposure would cause irritation but only minor residual injury. E.g. turpentineFlammability 1: Must be pre-heated before ignition can occur. Flash point over 93 °C (200 °F). E.g. canola oilInstability 0: Normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and is not reactive with water. E.g. liquid nitrogenSpecial hazards (white): no code
1
1
0
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Structure

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Amylose A is a parallel double-helix of linear chains of glucose

Amylose is made up of α(1→4) bound glucose molecules. The carbon atoms on glucose are numbered, starting at the aldehyde (C=O) carbon, so, in amylose, the 1-carbon on one glucose molecule is linked to the 4-carbon on the next glucose molecule (α(1→4) bonds).[3] The structural formula of amylose is pictured at right. The number of repeated glucose subunits (n) is usually in the range of 300 to 3000, but can be many thousands.

There are three main forms of amylose chains can take. It can exist in a disordered amorphous conformation or two different helical forms. It can bind with itself in a double helix (A or B form), or it can bind with another hydrophobic guest molecule such as iodine, a fatty acid, or an aromatic compound. This is known as the V form and is how amylopectin binds to amylose in the structure of starch. Within this group, there are many different variations. Each is notated with V and then a subscript indicating the number of glucose units per turn. The most common is the V6 form, which has six glucose units a turn.[4] V8 and possibly V7 forms exist as well. These provide an even larger space for the guest molecule to bind.[5]

This linear structure can have some rotation around the phi and psi angles, but for the most part bound glucose ring oxygens lie on one side of the structure. The α(1→4) structure promotes the formation of a helix structure, making it possible for hydrogen bonds to form between the oxygen atoms bound at the 2-carbon of one glucose molecule and the 3-carbon of the next glucose molecule.[6]

Fiber X-ray diffraction analysis coupled with computer-based structure refinement has found A-, B-, and C- polymorphs of amylose. Each form corresponds to either the A-, the B-, or the C- starch forms. A- and B- structures have different helical crystal structures and water contents, whereas the C- structure is a mixture of A- and B- unit cells, resulting in an intermediate packing density between the two forms.[7]

Physical properties

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Because the long linear chains of amylose more readily crystallize than amylopectin (which has short, highly branched chains), high-amylose starch is more resistant to digestion.[8] Unlike amylopectin, amylose is insoluble in water.[9][10] It also reduces the crystallinity of amylopectin and how easily water can infiltrate the starch.[6] The higher the amylose content, the less expansion potential and the lower the gel strength for the same starch concentration. This can be countered partially by increasing the granule size.[11][12]

Function

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Amylose is important in plant energy storage. It is less readily digested than amylopectin; however, because of its helical structure, it takes up less space than amylopectin. As a result, it is the preferred starch for storage in plants. It makes up about 30% of the stored starch in plants, though the percentage varies by species and variety.[13]

The digestive enzyme α-amylase breaks down starch molecules into maltotriose and maltose, which can be used as sources of energy.

Amylose is also an important thickener, water binder, emulsion stabilizer, and gelling agent in industrial and food-based contexts. Loose helical amylose chains have a hydrophobic interior that can bind to hydrophobic molecules such as lipids and aromatic compounds. The one problem with this is that, when it crystallizes or associates, it can lose some stability, often releasing water in the process (syneresis). When amylose concentration is increased, gel stickiness decreases but firmness increases. When other things, including amylopectin, bind to amylose, the viscosity can be affected, but incorporating κ-carrageenan, alginate, xanthan gum, or low-molecular-weight sugars can reduce the loss in stability. The ability to bind water can add substance to food, possibly serving as a fat replacement.[14] For example, amylose is responsible for causing white sauce to thicken, but, upon cooling, the solid and the water will partly separate. Amylose is known for its good film-forming properties, useful in food packaging. Excellent film-forming behavior of amylose was studied already in 1950s.[15] Amylose films are better for both barrier properties[16] and mechanical properties when compared to the amylopectin films.[17]

In a laboratory setting, it can act as a marker. Iodine molecules fit neatly inside the helical structure of amylose, binding with the starch polymer that absorbs certain known wavelengths of light. Hence, a common test is the iodine test for starch. If starch is mixed with a small amount of yellow iodine solution, a blue-black color will be observed. The intensity of the color can be tested with a colorimeter, using a red filter to discern the concentration of starch present in the solution. It is also possible to use starch as an indicator in titrations involving iodine reduction.[18] It is also used in amylose magnetic beads and resin to separate maltose-binding protein[19]

Recent studies

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High-amylose varieties of rice, the less sticky long-grain rice, have a much lower glycemic load, which could be beneficial for diabetics.[20]

Researchers have identified the Granule Bound Starch Synthase (GBSS) as the enzyme that specifically elongates amylose during starch biosynthesis in plants.[21] The waxy locus in maize encodes for the GBSS protein.[21] Mutants lacking the GBSS protein produce starch containing only amylopectin, such as in waxy corn. In Arabidopsis leaves, another gene, encoding the Protein Targeting to STarch (PTST) protein, is required in addition to GBSS for amylose synthesis. Mutants lacking either protein produce starch without amylose.[22] Genetically modified potato cultivar Amflora by BASF Plant Science was developed to not produce amylose.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Green, Mark M.; Blankenhorn, Glenn; Hart, Harold (November 1975). "Which Starch Fraction is Water-Soluble, Amylose or Amylopectin?". Journal of Chemical Education. 52 (11): 729. Bibcode:1975JChEd..52..729G. doi:10.1021/ed052p729. ... amylose is the water-insoluble starch component.
  2. ^ "Resistant starch". Archived from the original on 2010-09-24. Retrieved 2010-07-02.
  3. ^ Nelson, David and Michael M. Cox. Principles of Biochemistry. 5th ed. New York: W. H. Freeman and Company , 2008.[page needed]
  4. ^ a visualisation with references to the literature is found here
  5. ^ Cohen, R.; Orlova, Y.; Kovalev, M.; Ungar, Y.; Shimoni, E. (2008). "Structural and Functional Properties of Amylose Complexes with Genistein". Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 56 (11): 4212–4218. doi:10.1021/jf800255c. PMID 18489110.
  6. ^ a b "Starch". Archived from the original on 2012-01-14. Retrieved 2010-05-25.
  7. ^ Sarko, A; Wu, H.-C. H (1978). "The Crystal Structures of A-, B- and C-Polymorphs of Amylose and Starch". Starch - Stärke. 30 (3): 73–78. doi:10.1002/star.19780300302.
  8. ^ Birt DF, Boylston T, Hendrich S, Jane JL, Hollis J, Li L, McClelland J, Moore S, Phillips GJ, Rowling M, Schalinske K, Scott MP, Whitley EM (2013). "Resistant starch: promise for improving human health". Advances in Nutrition. 4 (6): 587–601. doi:10.3945/an.113.004325. PMC 3823506. PMID 24228189.
  9. ^ "Which Starch Fraction is Water-Soluble, Amylose or Amylopectin?". A survey of 22 popular organic chemistry textbooks showed that only four correctly stated that of the two components of starch, amylopectin is the water-soluble, and amylose is the water-insoluble.
  10. ^ Green, Mark M; Blankenhorn, Glenn; Hart, Harold (1975). "Which starch fraction is water-soluble, amylose or amylopectin?". Journal of Chemical Education. 52 (11): 729. Bibcode:1975JChEd..52..729G. doi:10.1021/ed052p729.
  11. ^ Li, Jeng-Yune; Yeh, An-I (2001). "Relationships between thermal, rheological characteristics and swelling power for various starches" (PDF). Journal of Food Engineering. 50 (3): 141–148. doi:10.1016/S0260-8774(00)00236-3.
  12. ^ Pycia, K; Gałkowska, D; Juszczak, L; Fortuna, T; Witczak, T (2014). "Physicochemical, thermal and rheological properties of starches isolated from malting barley varieties". Journal of Food Science and Technology. 52 (8): 4797–4807. doi:10.1007/s13197-014-1531-3. PMC 4519444. PMID 26243900.
  13. ^ Wang, Juan; Hu, Pan; Chen, Zichun; Liu, Qiaoquan; Wei, Cunxu (2017). "Progress in High-Amylose Cereal Crops through Inactivation of Starch Branching Enzymes". Frontiers in Plant Science. 8: 469. doi:10.3389/fpls.2017.00469. PMC 5379859. PMID 28421099.
  14. ^ Chung, Hyun-Jung; Liu, Qiang (2009). "Impact of molecular structure of amylopectin and amylose on amylose chain association during cooling". Carbohydrate Polymers. 77 (4): 807–815. doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2009.03.004.
  15. ^ Wolff, Ivan A.; Davis, H. A.; Cluskey, J. E.; Gundrum, L. J.; Rist, Carl E. (April 1951). "Preparation of Films from Amylose". Industrial & Engineering Chemistry. 43 (4): 915–919. doi:10.1021/ie50496a039.
  16. ^ Rindlav-Westling, A˚sa; Stading, Mats; Hermansson, Anne-Marie; Gatenholm, Paul (July 1998). "Structure, mechanical and barrier properties of amylose and amylopectin films". Carbohydrate Polymers. 36 (2–3): 217–224. doi:10.1016/S0144-8617(98)00025-3.
  17. ^ Myllärinen, Päivi; Partanen, Riitta; Seppälä, Jukka; Forssell, Pirkko (December 2002). "Effect of glycerol on behaviour of amylose and amylopectin films". Carbohydrate Polymers. 50 (4): 355–361. doi:10.1016/S0144-8617(02)00042-5.
  18. ^ "Biochemistry Structure and Function". Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2010-05-25.
  19. ^ "Amylose Magnetic Beads(E8035), pMAL Companion Products, NEB". Archived from the original on 2010-01-08. Retrieved 2010-05-25.
  20. ^ Juliano, B. O.; Perez, C. M.; Komindr, S.; Banphotkasem, S. (December 1989). "Properties of Thai cooked rice and noodles differing in glycemic index in noninsulin-dependent diabetics". Plant Foods for Human Nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands). 39 (4): 369–374. doi:10.1007/bf01092074. ISSN 0921-9668. PMID 2631091. S2CID 189939655.
  21. ^ a b Keeling, Peter L; Myers, Alan M (2010). "Biochemistry and Genetics of Starch Synthesis". Annual Review of Food Science and Technology. 1: 271–303. doi:10.1146/annurev.food.102308.124214. PMID 22129338.
  22. ^ Seung, David; Soyk, Sebastian; Coiro, Mario; Maier, Benjamin A; Eicke, Simona; Zeeman, Samuel C (2015). "PROTEIN TARGETING TO STARCH is Required for Localising GRANULE-BOUND STARCH SYNTHASE to Starch Granules and for Normal Amylose Synthesis in Arabidopsis". PLOS Biology. 13 (2): e1002080. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.1002080. PMC 4339375. PMID 25710501.
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  • Zhong, Fang; Yokoyama, Wallace; Wang, Qian; Shoemaker, Charles F (2006). "Rice Starch, Amylopectin, and Amylose: Molecular Weight and Solubility in Dimethyl Sulfoxide-Based Solvents". Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 54 (6): 2320–2326. doi:10.1021/jf051918i. PMID 16536614.