Starch Chain Length Distribution Determination Service
Starch is the primary storage polysaccharide in plants, composed of amylose and amylopectin. Its structural complexity directly determines its functional characteristics in food, agriculture, biomaterials, and pharmaceutical fields. In addition to molecular weight and degree of polymerization, chain length distribution (CLD) is one of the most critical indicators describing the microscopic structure of starch. It reflects the ratio and arrangement characteristics of glucose chains with different lengths in amylopectin, which has a significant impact on starch crystallinity, gelatinization behavior, digestibility, and processing properties.
For example, short-chain components (low degree of polymerization range) help form dense crystalline regions and affect gelatinization temperature, while long-chain components enhance intermolecular interactions, improving gel strength and resistance to retrogradation. Starches from different plant sources, modification methods, or processing conditions will result in changes in starch chain length distribution, thereby altering its physical and functional properties. Therefore, accurate determination of starch chain length distribution is an important basis for understanding the structure–function relationship, optimizing processing technology, and developing functional starch products.
MtoZ Biolabs provides professional Starch Chain Length Distribution Determination Service for research institutions and industrial clients based on high-sensitivity chromatographic platforms and multi-enzyme reaction systems. Through high-resolution chain length distribution profiles, we help clients systematically reveal starch branching characteristics and structural differences, providing reliable data support for food science, plant genetic breeding, and functional carbohydrate research.
Services at MtoZ Biolab
The Starch Chain Length Distribution Determination Service of MtoZ Biolabs combines Debranching Enzymolysis–High-Performance Anion-Exchange Chromatography (HPAEC-PAD) and Gel Permeation Chromatography/Size Exclusion Chromatography (GPC/SEC), two complementary techniques that can accurately analyze the branching characteristics and molecular distribution structures of starch from different dimensions.
1. HPAEC-PAD Starch Chain Length Distribution Determination
This method combines specific enzymatic reactions with high-resolution chromatographic separation and is currently the most widely used method for chain length distribution determination internationally.
During the analysis, Isoamylase or Pullulanase is first used to cleave the α-1,6 glycosidic bonds in amylopectin, converting complex branched structures into linear oligosaccharides. Then, HPAEC-PAD (Thermo Fisher ICS system) is used to separate and detect chain segments with different degrees of polymerization (Degree of Polymerization, DP).
The system achieves high-resolution separation of oligosaccharides through anion exchange columns and records electrical signals using a pulsed amperometric detector (PAD), thereby generating a complete chain length distribution curve.
The results quantitatively reflect the proportions of short chains (DP 6–12), medium chains (DP 13–36), and long chains (DP > 37) in the sample, providing structural evidence for studying starch branching density, crystallinity, and gelatinization behavior.
2. GPC/SEC Starch Chain Length Distribution Determination
To further reveal the overall polymerization state and molecular volume distribution of starch before and after debranching, MtoZ Biolabs also uses Gel Permeation Chromatography/Size Exclusion Chromatography (GPC/SEC) for analysis.
This method separates molecules based on their ability to enter the pores of the packing material. Large molecular weight components cannot enter the pores and elute earlier, while small molecular weight components can enter more pores and elute later. By recording elution signals using a Refractive Index Detector (RI) or Multi-Angle Light Scattering Detector (MALS), molecular volume distribution spectra and molecular weight parameters (Mw, Mn, PDI) can be obtained.
GPC/SEC analysis reflects the overall polymerization degree and structural uniformity of starch molecules and is an important supplement to HPAEC-PAD results, which can be used to evaluate the differences in polymerization levels among different samples.
HPAEC-PAD focuses on the analysis of single-chain structures after debranching and can accurately characterize the ratio and branching characteristics of chains with different degrees of polymerization.
Analysis Workflow
1. Sample Pretreatment
Homogenize and heat gelatinize samples to ensure starch molecules are fully unfolded.
2. Debranching Enzyme Reaction
Add Isoamylase or Pullulanase under appropriate pH and temperature conditions to cleave α-1,6 bonds and convert amylopectin into linear oligosaccharide chains.
3. Reaction Termination and Purification
Heat to deactivate the enzyme, centrifuge to remove impurities, and obtain a clear sample solution.
4. Chromatographic Detection
Inject the sample into the HPAEC-PAD system for separation and detection, and record the current signal curve.
5. Data Processing and Analysis
Establish calibration curves using standard oligosaccharides, calculate the relative content of different DP ranges, and generate chain length distribution profiles.
Service Advantages
1. High-Resolution Detection
The starch chain length distribution determination service of MtoZ Biolabs has high detection sensitivity and good reproducibility, clearly distinguishing short-chain and long-chain regions to ensure data accuracy and comparability.
2. Comprehensive Structural Information
The analytical system of MtoZ Biolabs can simultaneously obtain the ratio information of short, medium, and long chains of starch, and combined with the overall molecular weight distribution results, comprehensively reveal the branching density, polymerization characteristics, and structural uniformity of starch, providing systematic data support for structural analysis and functional research.
3. Broad Sample Applicability
Our starch chain length distribution determination service is applicable to native starches from different plant sources (such as corn, potato, rice, and wheat) as well as various modified starches, including chemical, enzymatic, and physical treatments.
Applications
✔️ Food Science Research: Analyze the effects of different processing methods on starch structure, such as heating, cooling, extrusion, or retrogradation treatment.
✔️ Plant Breeding and Raw Material Screening: Compare differences in starch chain length distribution among different varieties or mutants and study amylopectin synthesis pathways.
✔️ Modified Starch Development: Evaluate the changes in chain length distribution after chemical or enzymatic modification and their correlation with functional properties.
✔️ Nutritional Metabolism Research: Explore the effects of chain length structure on starch digestion rate and resistant starch content.
✔️ Quality Control: Used for structural consistency testing of functional raw materials, starch additives, and food ingredients.
Sample Submission Suggestions
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Item |
Requirement |
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Sample Type |
Starch samples are required. Clients can provide purified starch or raw samples (such as grains, legumes, or tubers), and MtoZ Biolabs can extract starch (extraction charged separately). |
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Biological Replicates |
Each sample is recommended to have ≥ 3 biological replicates to ensure data reliability. |
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Sample Amount |
- Starch sample: ≥ 1 g - Raw sample: ≥ 50 g (for extraction) |
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Sample Preparation |
Place the sample in a sealed tube, label the sample name, concentration, and preparation date, and seal the tube with Parafilm to prevent leakage. It is recommended to fix the sample tube in a 50 mL centrifuge tube and pack it in a sealed bag. |
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Storage and Transportation |
Transport with dry ice or ice packs to avoid repeated freezing and thawing. Samples should be protected from light, moisture, and high temperature. |
Deliverables
1. Chain length distribution profiles of starch samples (DP distribution curves)
2. Proportion statistics of different chain length ranges
3. Calibration curves and quality control records
4. Complete analysis report (including experimental conditions, method principles, and result interpretation)
5. Optional data comparison and inter-sample difference analysis charts
Contact us to learn about the starch chain length distribution determination service of MtoZ Biolabs and let structural analysis help you advance deeper in carbohydrate science and application research.
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