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Analysis of the native structure of starch granules with small angle x‐ray microfocus scattering
Author(s) -
Waigh Thomas A.,
Donald Athene M.,
Heidelbach Florian,
Riekel Christian,
Gidley Michael J.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
biopolymers
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.556
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1097-0282
pISSN - 0006-3525
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0282(199901)49:1<91::aid-bip9>3.0.co;2-9
Subject(s) - amylopectin , lamellar structure , scattering , crystallinity , crystallography , small angle x ray scattering , chemistry , polymer , amylose , optics , starch , physics , biochemistry , organic chemistry
Small angle x‐ray microfocus scattering patterns were obtained from 4 μm regions of hydrated potato starch granules. The 9 nm lamellar reflection was found to be modulated along two flat streaked layer lines symmetrically related, and arranged in a weak four point pattern. This provides evidence for two populations of tilted lamellae in the granule present in equal quantities, but opposite angles of tilt. The paucity of reflections in the scattering patterns implies the existence of correlated disorder between the lamellae, and is a product of either their liquid crystallinity or a well‐developed defect structure between the constituent amylopectin helices. The angular position of the four point modulation (17.25°) on the scattering patterns is compared with the values predicted from a superhelical lamellar model containing cumulative disorder along its axis, and good agreement is found with the data. The physical basis for the occurrence of these helical lamellae is examined on the basis of the model of amylopectin as a chiral side chain liquid‐ crystalline polymer (T. A. Waigh et al., Macromolecules, 1997, Vol. 30, pp. 3813–3820; Faraday Discussions, 1996, Vol. 103, pp. 325–337). © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 49: 91–105, 1999