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Related Experiment Videos

Atomic levers control pyranose ring conformations.

P E Marszalek1, Y P Pang, H Li

  • 1Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Department of Pharmacology, Mayo Foundation, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. piotr@mayo.edu

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|July 8, 1999
PubMed
Summary

Atomic force microscopy reveals pectin molecules undergo force-induced, two-step conformational changes in their pyranose rings, transitioning between chair and boat forms. This demonstrates single-molecule mechanochemistry and the role of glycosidic bonds as mechanical levers.

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Area of Science:

  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Biophysics
  • Mechanochemistry

Background:

  • Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has enabled the study of single polysaccharide molecules.
  • Conformational chemistry traditionally explores static structures, but force-driven transitions are a newer frontier.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate force-induced chair inversion in the pyranose ring of pectin molecules.
  • To expand understanding of single-molecule mechanochemistry in polysaccharides.

Main Methods:

  • Atomic force microscope (AFM) manipulations of single pectin molecules.
  • Measurement of distance changes between glycosidic oxygen atoms (O1 and O4).
  • Ab initio calculations to corroborate experimental findings.

Main Results:

Related Experiment Videos

  • Demonstrated a two-step conformational conversion in pectin's pyranose ring: chair to boat to inverted chair (4C1 ⇌ boat ⇌ 1C4).
  • Observed force-induced torque on glycosidic bonds, acting as mechanical levers.
  • Corroborated experimental distance changes with theoretical calculations.

Conclusions:

  • Glycosidic bonds' orientation (axial or equatorial) dictates torque generation and conformational transitions.
  • This mechanochemical model accurately predicts transitions based on linkage configurations.
  • Highlights the capability of single-molecule force spectroscopy to resolve complex molecular behaviors.