Nature's dendrimer: characterizing amylopectin as a multivalent host

Abstract

Hang on to those branches! Amylopectin, the major polysaccharide of starch, is a predominantly α(1,4)-linked glucan whose properties are defined by its size and the number, distribution, and length of its α(1,6)-linked branches. The amphiphilic probe HPTS-C16 H33 binds to terminal helical branches longer than 12 glucose units (green), which allows for a detailed quantitative characterization of polysaccharide branching by (1) H NMR spectroscopy.

Keywords: carbohydrates; hydrophobic effect; polysaccharides; starches; supramolecular chemistry.