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Updated: Jun 16, 2025

Analysis and Specification of Starch Granule Size Distributions
Published on: March 4, 2021
Perspectives on Starch Structure, Function, and Synthesis in Relation to the Backbone Model of Amylopectin
Eric Bertoft1, Andreas Blennow2, Bruce R Hamaker3
1Bertoft Solutions, Gamla Sampasvägen 18, 20960 Turku, Finland.
Abstract:
Understanding functionality of polysaccharides such as starch requires molecular representations that account for their functional characteristics, such as those related to gelatinization, gelation, and crystallization. Starch macromolecules are inherently very complex, and precise structures can only be deduced from large data sets to generate relational models. For amylopectin, the major, well-organized, branched part of starch, two main molecular representations describe its structure: the classical cluster model and the more recent backbone model. Continuously emerging data call for inspection of these models, necessary revisions, and adoption of the preferred representation. The accumulated molecular and functional data support the backbone model and it well accommodates our present knowledge related to the biosynthesis of starch. This Perspective focuses on our current knowledge of starch structure and functionality directly in relation to the backbone model of amylopectin.
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