National Centre for Macromolecular Hydrodynamics, The University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, LE12 5RD, UK.
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2HA, UK.
Sci Rep. 2018 Aug 7;8(1):11809. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-29997-0.
Beta 1-3, 1-4 glucans ("beta-glucans") are one of the key components of the cell wall of cereals, complementing the main structural component cellulose. Beta-glucans are also an important source of soluble fibre in foods containing oats with claims of other beneficial nutritional properties such as plasma cholesterol lowering in humans. Key to the function of beta-glucans is their molecular weight and because of their high polydispersity - molecular weight distribution. Analytical ultracentrifugation provides a matrix-free approach (not requiring separation columns or media) to polymer molecular weight distribution determination. The sedimentation coefficient distribution is converted to a molecular weight distribution via a power law relation using an established procedure known as the Extended Fujita approach. We establish and apply the power law relation and Extended Fujita method for the first time to a series of native and processed oat beta-glucans. The application of this approach to beta-glucans from other sources is considered.
β-1-3、β-1-4 葡聚糖（“β-葡聚糖”）是谷物细胞壁的主要成分之一，与主要结构成分纤维素相辅相成。β-葡聚糖也是燕麦等食物中可溶性纤维的重要来源，声称具有其他有益的营养特性，如降低人体血浆胆固醇。β-葡聚糖功能的关键在于其分子量，由于其具有高分子量多分散性 - 分子量分布。分析超速离心提供了一种无基质的方法（不需要分离柱或介质）来测定聚合物的分子量分布。沉降系数分布通过使用称为扩展 Fujita 方法的既定程序的幂律关系转换为分子量分布。我们首次建立并应用该幂律关系和扩展 Fujita 方法来研究一系列天然和加工的燕麦β-葡聚糖。考虑将这种方法应用于其他来源的β-葡聚糖。
