Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 1, 2026

Structural Characterization of Mannan Cell Wall Polysaccharides in Plants Using PACE
Published on: October 16, 2017
A molecular modeling approach to understand the structure and conformation relationship of (GlcpA)Xylan
Qingbin Guo1, Ji Kang2, Yan Wu3
1College of Food Engineering and Nutritional Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710119, China; Department of Food Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada.
Abstract:
The structure and conformation relationships of a heteropolysaccharide (GlcpA)Xylan in terms of various molecular weights, Xylp/GlcpA ratio and the distribution of GlcpA along xylan chain were investigated using computer modeling. The adiabatic contour maps of xylobiose, XylpXylp(GlcpA) and (GlcpA)XylpXylp(GlcpA) indicated that the insertion of the side group (GlcpA) influenced the accessible conformational space of xylobiose molecule. RIS-Metropolis Monte Carlo method indicated that insertion of GlcpA side chain induced a lowering effect of the calculated chain extension at low GlcpA:Xylp ratio (GlcpA:Xylp = 1:3). The chain, however, became extended when the ratio of GlcpA:Xylp above 2/3. It was also shown that the spatial extension of the polymer chains was dependent on the distribution of side chain: the random distribution demonstrated the most flexible structure compared to block and alternative distribution. The present studies provide a unique insight into the dependence of both side chain ratio and distribution on the stiffness and flexibility of various (GlcpA)Xylan molecules.
More Related Videos
06:13Determination of Glucan Chain Length Distribution of Glycogen Using the Fluorophore-Assisted Carbohydrate Electrophoresis FACE Method
Published on: March 31, 2022
11:49Sequencing of Plant Wall Heteroxylans Using Enzymic, Chemical Methylation and Physical Mass Spectrometry, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Techniques
Published on: March 24, 2016
Related Concept Videos
Fischer Projections
Oligosaccharide Assembly
Multiple sugar molecules that may or may...
Chemistry of Carbohydrates
Chemistry of Carbohydrates
Chemistry of Carbohydrates
Molecular Models