Chemical Structure of α-D-Glucan in the Seed of Buckwheat(Fagopyrum esculentum)

Abstract

The polysaccharide composed of only D-glucose was extracted with cold water from the endosperm of buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) and purified through a column of DEAESephadex A-50 (C1-form), It was revealed to be a phytoglycogen from the results of IR-analysis , methylation study, and enzymic hydrolysis. The weight average molecular weight of the polysaccharide was determined to be about 14, 800 by gel chromatography. ƒÀ-Limit dextrin prepared from the polysaccharide was digested with pollulanase and then isoamylase. A ratio of maltose and maltotriose to higher oligosaccha rides in the digest supported Meyer's model for the structure of this polysaccharide .