Relationship between branching density and crystalline structure of A- and B-type maize mutant starches
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Updated: Oct 15, 2026

Analysis and Specification of Starch Granule Size Distributions
Published on: March 4, 2021
C Gérard1, V Planchot, P Colonna
1INRA, BP 71627, Nantes, France.
Abstract:
Amylopectin from two double maize mutant starches of A-crystalline (wxdu) and B-crystalline type (aewx) was subjected successively to hydrolysis involving alpha and beta amylases, which isolated clusters and all branching zones of clusters (BZC). Enzymatic analysis together with ionic and size-exclusion chromatography revealed the structural features of the clusters and BZC and their role in starch crystallization. A-type clusters were larger (dp(n) > 80) and contained more (but shorter) chains than B-type clusters. The BZC of A-type starch was also larger, but with a shorter distance between the branching points than in B-type BZC. A-type clusters had a densely packed structure and B-type a poorly branched structure. Models for the structure of A- and B-type clusters are presented, and a hypothesis for the influence of cluster geometry on crystallization is proposed.
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