Postharvest ripening of newly harvested corn: Weakened interactions between starch and protein

The effects of postharvest ripening of corn on the mechanisms of starch and protein interactions were investigated using molecular dynamics and several chemical substances. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) treatment all significantly affected the starch content, molecular weight of proteins, relative crystallinity, pasting characteristics and dynamic viscoelasticity in samples before and after postharvest ripening. In the corn that had not undergone postharvest ripening, there were also significant electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonds between starch and protein. In addition, molecular dynamics had demonstrated that the forces between starch and protein in corn were mainly hydrophobic interactions, electrostatic interaction, and hydrogen bonds. Compared with zein, corn glutelin was more tightly bound to starch. The binding energy of starch to both proteins was reduced in after postharvest-ripened corn. This study laid a rationale for investigating the change mechanism of corn postharvest ripening quality and improving processing property and edible quality of corn.