Carbohydrates

Question 1

Structure of Amylose

Answer 1

Amylose is an unbranched polymer of a-glucose units linked by a- (1,4)-glycosidic bonds.
The angles of a- (1,4)-glycosidic bonds make amylose helical. Hydrogen bonds formed between the –OH groups of the a-glucose units hold the
helix together.
For every complete turn of the helix, there are 6 a-glucose units.
Since most of the –OH groups of the a-glucose units project into the interior of the helix, cross-linking between amylose chains is therefore not possible.