Analytical methodology for multidimensional size/branch-length distributions for branched glucose polymers using...

Instrumental and procedural optimizations are developed for a new method to obtain 2-dimensional distributions for branched homopolymers based on size and branching. The method uses 2-dimensional off-line size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) and chemical debranching, in this case using debranching enzymes on branched glucose polymers. This treatment, first presented for the 2D weight and number distributions of starch [F. Vilaplana, R.G. Gilbert, Macromolecules 43 (2010) 7321] is applied here to give 2D weight distributions as functions of size and branch length for glycogen, amylose, and native starch containing both amylopectin and amylose. Completely dissolved polysaccharides are first fractionated by size (hydrodynamic volume) using preparative SEC; the collected fractions are then debranched by addition of isoamylase, and the size distributions of the corresponding branches are analyzed for each fraction using analytical SEC with differential refractive index and with multiple-angle laser light scattering detection. Operational parameters have been optimized to provide sufficient separation resolution for each dimension (size of the whole branched macromolecule and size of the resulting branches after debranching) and to minimize degradation. These 2-dimensional distributions bring out new features in the structure of these branched polysaccharides, and offer a useful tool to elucidate relations between biosynthesis, structure, and properties.