Retrogradation of sweet potato amylose and amylopectin with narrow molecular weight distribution

Retrogradation of sweet potato amylose and amylopectin with narrow molecular weight distribution at different temperatures was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Atomic force microscope (AFM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and light microscopy were combined to study the morphology of the molecular assemblies during retrogradation. Avrami equation was used to the retrogradation kinetics the of above starches by determining the crystallinity and the ratio of peak area of two distinctive peaks. It was found that only the ratio of peak area/total area at 2θ = ~16.3° could represent the crystallinity of retrograded starch-containing amorphous regions. Considering the crystallinity as retrogradation rate, only the retrogradation kinetics of sweet potato amylose could be analysed by Avrami equation, but not the amylopectin’s. All Avrami exponents n of amyloses at any temperatures were less than 1.0, indicating instantaneous nucleation and rod-like growth. AFM results showed that the maximum heights of layered structure for sweet potato amylose, amylopectin and blending of both were approximately 4800, 180 and 200 nm, respectively. The height of the former two decreased during storage, but the height of blending remained unchanged. Amylose served as nuclei of amylopectin during starch retrogradation.     

CHARACTERIZATION OF THE ACTION OF BACILLUS SUBTILUS ALPHA-AMYLASE ON SWEET POTATO STARCH,AMYLOSE AND AMYLOPECTIN1

The action pattern of Bacillus subtilis alpha-amylase on Jewel variety sweet potato starch, amylose and amylopectin was monitored using high performance size exclusion chromatography. A wide range of products, from high molecular weight polysaccharides to specific saccharides of low molecular weights, were observed. The hydrolysis pattern for amylose in starch was concealed by hydrolytic fragments formed from amylolysis of the greater quantity of amylopectin. Amylopectin was degraded to a more specific mixture of polysaccharide fragments. Changes in molecular size of hydrolytic fragments formed during amylolysis supported the cluster model previously proposed for amylopectin. These results also suggest that the action of alpha-amylase on sweet potato starch is generally a nonrandom process, primarily resulting from enzymatic action on amylopectin. To support this hypothesis, a more random pattern of hydrolysis was observed from acid treated starch.     

6种不同种类直支链淀粉相互混合对其回生的影响

目的 研究6种不同种类直支链淀粉相互混合对其回生的影响。方法 将玉米淀粉、甘薯淀粉、木薯淀粉、马铃薯淀粉、糯米淀粉、小麦淀粉等6种不同种类直支链淀粉分离出来, 然后两两混合, 研究不同直支链混合对其回生率的影响。 结果 马铃薯支链淀粉与甘薯支链淀粉以2:8(m:m)混合回生率最低, 为60.0%, 玉米支链淀粉与木薯支链淀粉以8:2(m:m)混合回生率最低为52.6%, 小麦支链淀粉与糯米支链淀粉以8:2(m:m)混合回生率最低为51.2%, 甘薯支链淀粉与小麦支链淀粉以1:1(m:m)混合回生率最低为53.7%。木薯支链淀粉与小麦直链淀粉以1:1(m:m)混合时所得淀粉回生率最大, 达到了92.0%, 混合淀粉回生后X射线晶型为B型。结论 不同种类直支链淀粉混合对其回生率影响很大, 食品加工中尽量不要混合使用木薯支链淀粉与小麦直链淀粉。     

Effects of enzymically modified amylopectin on the rheological properties of amylose-amylopectin mixed gels

Branched α-dextrins with different molecular weights were prepared from waxy maize. A series of β-limit dextrins was prepared from α-dextrins and native amylopectin. The fine structure of the dextrin samples was investigated by debranching, and was found to be similar to the unit chain distribution of native amylopectin. The absolute molecular weights of α- and β-limit dextrins and commercial potato amy lose were determined by gel-permeation chromatography (GPC) and with a dual light-scattering detector. Solubilized potato amy lose and α- and β-limit dextrins were mixed at different ratios to give a total concentration of 8%. Dynamic viscoelastic measurements showed that gel formation of amylose was highly dependent both on the ratio of amylose to α-dextrin and on the molecular weight of α-dextrin. α-Dextrin caused an increase of storage modulus, G, when the amylose: α-dextrin ratio was low and the molecular weight of α-dextrin was high. The high-molecular-weight α-dextrin influenced amylose gelation in the same way as native waxy maize starch, but the medium- and low-molecular-weight α-dextrins weakened the gel formation, especially at a ratio of 25:75 (amylose: α-dextrin). When low-molecular-weight β-limit dextrins were mixed with amylose, the resulting gels were more rigid than those in which amylose was mixed with corresponding α-dextrins. When high-molecular-weight β-limit dextrins were mixed with amylose, the resulting gels were weaker.     

Comparative Study on the Starch Noodle Structure of Sweet Potato and Mung Bean

ABSTRACT:  Fine structure of sweet potato starch (SPS) and mung bean starch (MBS) by gel-permeation chromatography (GPC) showed that the amylose in SPS and MBS had 9.0 and 1.8 chains, respectively. The long chains of amylopectin in MBS (A_p-MB) were longer than those of amylopectin in SPS (A_p-SP), but the short chains of A_p-SP were shorter than those of A_p-MB. The structures of starch noodles of sweet potato (SPSN) and mung bean (MBSN) were analyzed by GPC, scanning electron micrograph (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and X-ray diffraction after hydrolysis by acid and enzymes. The results showed that the residues obtained with acid and enzymes in MBSN contained large amounts of high molecular weight fractions, and a relatively small amount of low molecular weight fractions, whereas those in SPSN contained some high molecular weight fractions and large amounts of low molecular weight fractions. SPSN exhibited higher digestibility by HCl, α-amylase, β-amylase, and pullulanase than MBSN. The surface of MBSN was more smooth than that of SPSN and the inside of MBSN contained long, thick, and orderly filaments, while there were many pore spaces inside SPSN from SEM. The DSC thermogram of the resistant residues from both starch noodles after acid/enzyme hydrolysis showed a broad endotherm peak near 100 °C (96 to 115 °C) due to the presence of the complexes of amylose-lipid and lipid-(long chains in amylopectin). Because of a lower content of branched amylose and a higher content of amylopectin in SPS, the structure of SPSN had a less distinct crystalline pattern and higher adhesiveness, whereas there was a higher content of amylose with a little branch and moderate amylopectin in MBS. Thus, the structure of MBSN had a stronger distinct crystalline pattern and good cohesiveness.     

Use of High-Performance Size-Exclusion Chromatography for Characterization of Amylose Isolated from Diverse Botanical Sources

Amyloses were isolated from diverse botanical sources (apple, mango, maize, and potato), and they were studied in their molecular characteristics (amylose content, molar mass, and molecular weight) using high-performance size-exclusion chromatography as a repetitive and faster protocol. The amylose purity ranged between 85.6–92.6 %, in agreement with the λ_max values (601–610 nm), showing that some impurities with molecules of higher molar mass (amylopectin) were present. The standard curve of pullulan showed a high regression coefficient (0.998) inside of the limits of molar mass of amylose. Chromatograms of amylose showed the presence of components of high molar mass with a principal peak that corresponds to amylose. Molar mass of amylose ranged between 1.2 and 8.5 × 10⁵ g/mol with polydispersity values between 1.3–4.1, indicating a narrow range of molar mass distribution of the amyloses analyzed. The high-performance size-exclusion chromatography coupled with a refractive index methodology used in this study may be considered simple and rapid for molecular studies of amylose.     

Effects of Wheat Starch Contents on Malt Qualities

The relationships between wheat starch content and wheat malt qualities were studied in the present work. Six wheat varieties that were typical in starch, protein content and amylopectin/amylose ratio were selected from 12 wheat varieties and germinated under the same conditions. The decreased degree of total starch content after malting had a positive correlation (r = 0.8020, P < 0.1) with the amylopectin/amylose ratio of the raw wheat. Extracts of wheat malts were influenced by starch content and the amylopectin/amylose ratio of the raw wheat. When the amylopectin/amylose ratio was in the range 3.65:1?3.93:1, extracts of the malts had significant positive correlation (r = 0.967, P = 0.002) with the starch content of the raw wheat. In this investigation a suitable amylopectin/amylose ratio (3.65:1 to 3.93:1), a high starch content and a low protein content were the characteristics of a wheat variety suitable for malting.     

甘薯块根膨大过程中质构特性和淀粉直/支比的研究

甘薯块根膨大过程中质构特性和淀粉组分的变化对甘薯的品质和用途有着重要影响。本研究选取3种甘薯类型和4个时期,通过质地多面分析法(TPA)和双波长碘比色法,分析其质构特性和淀粉直链淀粉和支链淀粉比值(淀粉直/支比)随块根膨大的变化规律。结果表明,甘薯淀粉直/支比在扦插后80天开始下降,至扦插后110天达到谷值,之后小幅回升;整体上,甘薯扦插后的天数与淀粉直/支比、内聚性和弹性呈显著负相关(r =-0.390, r= -0.367, P <0.05;r= -0.634, P <0.01);与硬度呈显著正相关(r= 0.590, P <0.01)。淀粉直/支比与块根的内聚性、弹性和咀嚼性呈显著正相关(r =0.368, P <0.05; r= 0.463, r= 0.642, P <0.01);综合分析发现,扦插后80~110天（块根膨大高峰期至膨大后期）收获的甘薯适合水果型(生食型)甘薯的开发。     

促进玉米直链淀粉回生的甘薯淀粉晶种的筛选及表征

通过向四次回生的玉米直链淀粉中添加草酸侵蚀的四次回生的甘薯淀粉、甘薯直链和甘薯支链淀粉晶种(质量分数:1%),研究甘薯淀粉晶种对玉米直链淀粉回生的影响。结果表明,甘薯淀粉晶种明显促进了玉米直链淀粉回生长晶,其中甘薯直链淀粉晶种使得玉米直链淀粉回生率达到59.5%,比不添加晶种提高了19.3%。可见吸收光谱研究表明,甘薯淀粉晶种及长晶后的玉米直链淀粉均保持了双螺旋结构。X-射线研究表明草酸侵蚀后甘薯淀粉、甘薯直链淀粉、甘薯支链淀粉均为A+B型。将其分别添加到玉米直链淀粉中并长晶后的样品,结构均为B型。DSC研究表明,甘薯支链淀粉晶种具有最高的吸热焓,说明其晶体含量最高。三种晶种分别促进玉米直链淀粉长晶后的结构较为相似,晶体含量也较相近。该研究为提高淀粉的回生率、研究回生淀粉结晶结构提供良好的技术支持。     

In vitro availability of starch in heat‐treated potatoes as related to genotype,weight and storage time

The objective of the study was to determine the influence of potato variety, weight and storage time after lifting on the glycaemic index (GI) and resistant starch (RS) content predicted from measurement of the rate and extent of in vitro starch hydrolysis, respectively. The potatoes were either boiled, or boiled and subjected to different heat‐cycling conditions selected to promote retrogradation of amylose or amylopectin, respectively. The hydrolysis indices (HI) and predicted GIs of all 19 potato products were high and fell within narrow ranges of 122–144 and 118–138, respectively. No correlation between average weight of the potato tuber and HI was found. Furthermore, there was no difference in HI between potatoes stored for 1–3 or 8–10 months, nor between varieties of new potato and winter potato. However, the HI was significantly lowered by temperature cycling at conditions known to promote retrogradation of amylopectin (6 °C, 48 h) compared with 6 °C for 24 h followed by 70 °C for 24 h. RS content was already substantial in boiled potatoes, 4.5 g 100 g^?1 (starch basis), and could be increased further by temperature cycling, the highest yield obtained, 9.8 g 100 g^?1 (starch basis), following heat treatment at 6 °C for 24 h followed by 70 °C for 24 h; that is at conditions known to favour amylose retrogradation. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Relationship between α-amylase degradation and physico-chemical properties of sweet potato starches

Six varieties of sweet potatoes, grown under identical conditions, produced starches that displayed different characteristics. Susceptibility to pancreatic α-amylase varied between starches produced by the different clones. Structural characteristics at various levels, such as ratio of major fractions, size of amylose, gelatinization temperature and granule morphology, were also different between clones. Correlating structural attributes with susceptibility led to the suggestion that granule structure, including amylopectin: amylose ratio and molecular associations, were important critical factors in the hydrolysis of sweet potato starch granules. High amylopectin content of sweet potato starch was associated with a high gelatinization temperature and correspondingly less susceptibility to α-amylase attack. The hydrolysis pattern was correlated with degree of hydrolysis. Extensive surface erosion was shown to indicate a high degree of hydrolysis, whereas less surface erosion indicated less degradation.     

Effect of home preparation practices on the content of provitamin A carotenoids in coloured sweet potato varieties (Ipomoea batatas Lam.) from Kenya

The content of β-carotene was determined in raw peeled, boiled peeled and roasted peeled roots of six orange- and yellow-fleshed sweet potato varieties from Kenya to evaluate their vitamin A potential before and after household preparation. The boiling and roasting procedures were similar to traditional methods used in Kenya. Dried products, chips and flour, of the variety Zapallo were also analysed. The varieties differed in dry matter and β-carotene content (1240–10,800 μg/100 g fresh weight (FW)) and thus in vitamin A content (100–830 RE/100 g FW). As sweet potato roots are consumed after heating, the loss of all-trans-β-carotene during preparation should be taken into account. Boiling of roots of the selected varieties seemed to result in a higher true retention (TR) of all-trans-β-carotene than roasting and TR of all-trans-β-carotene seemed to be dependent on the variety (42–128%). Preparation of chips by drying resulted in a significant reduction of the all-trans-β-carotene content of approximately 21%, which was further reduced when flour was produced from chips. The varieties Tainung and SPK-004 can be recommended for consumption especially after boiling in order to enhance the vitamin A intake in Kenya. Both varieties have a high content of vitamin A, the losses after boiling are rather low and both varieties have high consumer acceptability.Industrial relevanceThe content and stability of β-carotene in sweet potato is an issue that is particularly important for developing countries with high prevalence of vitamin A deficiency. In order to prolong the shelf life of sweet potato, it is necessary to implement and develop industrial or small scale processing methods so that it is possible to produce sweet potato products with highest possible vitamin A values in these countries. In developed countries, focus is on innovation of new products with a good taste and a high health value. Consequently, sweet potato and sweet potato products might have a future as healthy foods in developed countries, and therefore there is a need to build up an industry that can provide the people in these countries with high quality sweet potato foods.     

1-甲基环丙烯对甘薯块根贮藏过程中品质相关指标的影响

以目前广泛栽培的4 个鲜食型甘薯品种为材料,研究了1-甲基环丙烯（1-methylcyclopropene,1-MCP）对贮藏过程中甘薯块根品质相关指标的影响。结果表明,1.00 μL/L的1-MCP对甘薯块根中可溶性糖、直链淀粉、支链淀粉以及胡萝卜素含量等甘薯品质相关指标有显著影响,并且这种影响因甘薯品种不同而存在明显差异。与对照处理相比,1-MCP处理的4 个甘薯品种可溶性糖含量达到高峰值的时间均有所提前,1-MCP显著提高了‘广87’和‘烟薯25’块根中可溶性糖含量峰值。1-MCP显著降低了0～7 d贮藏期间‘广87’、‘烟薯25’和‘龙薯9号’块根中直链淀粉含量,显著提高‘广87’和‘苏薯16’贮藏期间直链淀粉含量峰值,显著降低了‘苏薯16’和‘烟薯25’在贮藏28～120 d期间块根中直链淀粉含量。1-MCP还显著降低了‘苏薯16’和‘龙薯9号’在贮藏28～120 d期间的支链淀粉含量。1-MCP也显著改变了胡萝卜素含量的变化趋势,提前了‘广87’、‘苏薯16’和‘龙薯9号’在贮藏期间胡萝卜素含量达到最低值的时间。     

The importance of amylose and amylopectin fine structures for starch digestibility in cooked rice grains

Statistically and causally meaningful relationships are established between starch molecular structures (obtained by size-exclusion chromatography, proton NMR and multiple-angle laser light scattering) and digestibility of cooked rice grains (measured by in vitro digestion). Significant correlations are observed between starch digestion rate and molecular structural characteristics, including fine structures of the distributions of branch (chain) lengths in both amylose and amylopectin. The in vitro digestion rate tends to increase with longer amylose branches and smaller ratios of long amylopectin and long amylose branches to short amylopectin branches, although the statistical analyses show that further data are needed to establish this unambiguously. These new relationships between fine starch structural features and digestibility of cooked rice grains are mechanistically reasonable, but suggestive rather than statistically definitive.     

Rice Starch Molecular Size and its Relationship with Amylose Content

The composition and starch molecular structure of eight rice varieties were studied. Waxy and non‐waxy (long‐, medium‐, and short‐grain) rice varieties from California and Texas were used. The amylose contents were measured using the Concanavalin A method and were found to be related to the type of rice: waxy ≈ 1.0%, short and medium grain 8.7–15.4%, and long grain 17.1–19.9%. The weight‐average molar masses (M_w) of the starches varied from 0.52 to 1.96×10⁸ g/mol. As would be expected, a higher M_w of rice starch correlated to lower amylose content. The range of M_w of amylopectin was 0.82 to 2.50 ×10⁸ g/mol, and there was also a negative correlation of amylopectin M_w with amylose content. Amylose M_w ranged from 2.20 to 8.31×10⁵ g/mol. After debranching the amylopectin with isoamylase, the weight‐average degree of polymerization (DP_w) for the long‐chain fraction correlated positively with a higher amylose content. California and Texas varieties were significantly different in their amylose content, starch M_w (short‐ and medium‐grain only), and amylopectin M_w (p < 0.05).     

Some physical and nutritional characteristics of genetically modified potatoes varying in amylose/amylopectin ratios

Transgenically modified potatoes with a large spread in amylose/amylopectin ratios were analysed both as tubers and in the form of isolated starch. Different microscopic techniques were used to study starch granules and tuber tissue. Starch gelatinisation properties and recrystallisation of amylopectin and amylose were studied by differential scanning calorimetry. Starch bioavailability and resistant starch (RS) were evaluated using enzymatic in vitro procedures. Glycaemic indices (GI) were predicted from low molecular weight carbohydrates (LMWC) contents and the in vitro hydrolysis rate of the starch moiety. For many of the examined parameters, differences of varying magnitude were found between the potato lines, especially for high amylose lines. High amylose starch granules had irregular shapes and showed only a limited swelling. Moreover, contents of RS and recrystallised amylose were elevated. GI’s for the starch moiety were reduced, though elevated contents of LMWC caused a high over-all predicted GI.     

Physicochemical properties of dry matter and starch from potatoes grown in Canada

In this study dry matter and starch were isolated from three potato cultivars (AC Stempede Russet, Russet Burbank and Karnico) grown at two locations (Fredericton and Benton) in New Brunswick, Canada. The chemical composition including total starch, dietary fibre, free glucose and protein content in potato dry matter and apparent amylose and total phosphorus content in potato starch were determined. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to determine the thermal properties of gelatinization and retrogradation of potato dry matter and starch. The pasting properties of potato dry matter and starch were investigated by rapid visco analyzer (RVA). The resistant starch measurement method was employed to evaluate the digestibility in vitro of native and gelatinized potato starch. Molecular characteristics including chain length and chain length distribution of potato starch were also analyzed using high performance anion exchange chromatography (HPAEC). The analytical results suggest that differences in chemical composition and molecular chain length of potato starch may contribute to different functional properties of potato dry matter and starch of individual cultivars.     

Analysis of Starch in Food Systems by High‐Performance Size Exclusion Chromatography

Starch has unique physicochemical characteristics among food carbohydrates. Starch contributes to the physicochemical attributes of food products made from roots, legumes, cereals, and fruits. It occurs naturally as distinct particles, called granules. Most starch granules are a mixture of 2 sugar polymers: a highly branched polysaccharide named amylopectin and a basically linear polysaccharide named amylose. The starch contained in food products undergoes changes during processing, which causes changes in the starch molecular weight and amylose to amylopectin ratio. The objective of this study was to develop a new, simple, 1‐step, and accurate method for simultaneous determination of amylose and amylopectin ratio as well as weight‐averaged molecular weights of starch in food products. Starch from bread flour, canned peas, corn flake cereal, snack crackers, canned kidney beans, pasta, potato chips, and white bread was extracted by dissolving in KOH, urea, and precipitation with ethanol. Starch samples were solubilized and analyzed on a high‐performance size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) system. To verify the identity of the peaks, fractions were collected and soluble starch and beta‐glucan assays were performed additional to gas chromatography analysis. We found that all the fractions contain only glucose and soluble starch assay is correlated to the HPSEC fractionation. This new method can be used to determine amylose amylopectin ratio and weight‐averaged molecular weight of starch from various food products using as low as 25 mg dry samples.     

Textural properties and morphology of soy 7S globulin-corn starch (amylose,amylopectin)

The texture properties (hardness, adhesiveness, cohesion, elasticity) of composite gels with different ratios (0:100, 6:94, 8:92, 10:90, 12:88, and 14:86, respectively) of soy 7S globulin to corn starch (amylose, amylopectin) were studied. Furthermore, the morphology and crystal structure of the mixed gels were investigated. The results showed: the addition of soy 7S globulin could weaken the hardness of corn starch (amylose, amylopectin) and increased the adhesiveness of corn amylose significantly (p < 0.05). Generally, when the additive amount of soy 7S globulin was 10%, the composite gels of soy 7S globulin and corn starch (amylose, amylopectin) appeared to have the best consistency, cohesion, and elasticity.     

Gel texture and chain structure of amylomaltase-modified starches compared to gelatin

Amylomaltase (AM) (4-α-d-glucanotransferase; E.C. 2.4.1.25) from Thermus thermophilus was used to modify starches from various botanical sources including potato, high amylose potato (HAP), maize, waxy maize, wheat and pea, as well as a chemical oxidized potato starch (Gelamyl 120). Amylopectin chain length distribution, textural properties of gels and molecular weight of 51 enzyme and 7 non-enzyme-modified starches (parent samples) were analyzed. Textural data were compared with the textural properties of gelatin gels. Modifying starch with AM caused broadening of the amylopectin chain length distribution, creating a unimodal distribution. The increase in longer chains was supposedly a combined effect of amylose to amylopectin chain transfer and transfer of cluster units within the amylopectin molecules.Exploratory principal component analysis (PCA) data analysis revealed that the data were composed of two components explaining 94.2% of the total variation. Parent starches formed a cluster separated from that of the AM-modified starches.Extended AM treatments reduced the apparent molecular weight and the gel texture without changing the amylopectin chain length distribution. However, the gel texture was typically increased as compared to the parent starch. AM-modified HAP gels were about twice as hard as gelatin gels at identical concentration, whereas gels of pea starch were comparable to gelatin gels. Modifying Gelamyl 120 and waxy maize with AM did not change the textural properties. Branching enzyme (BE) (1,4-α-d-glucan branching enzyme; EC 2.4.1.18) from Rhodothermus obamensis was used in just one modification and in combination with AM. The combined AM/BE modification of pea starch resulted in starches with shorter amylopectin chains and pastes unable to form gel network even at concentration as high as 12.0% (w/w). The PCA model of all gel texture data gave suggestive evidence for starch structural features being important for generating a gelatin-like texture.