AMYLOSE IS NOT STRICTLY LINEAR

Amyloses from selected corn starches were used to measure the glucoses involved in the branching points. The number of glucose alpha 1,6 glycosidically linked were determined by two different methods: 1) The enzymatic one measures directly quantiatively and specifically the glucoses alpha 1,6 linked. 2) The other, a chemical one that measures the different n-methylated glucoses involved in the terminal, alpha 1,4 linked and alpha 1,6 linked positions. The results obtained through both methodologies clearly indicate a good correlation. Amylose is not linear. It has very small proportion of branches and they are alpha 1,6 glycosidically linked.