Publication no. C-1999-1006-06R |  VIEW ARTICLE

alpha-Amylolysis of Large Barley Starch Granules.

M. Lauro (1,2), P. M. Forssell (1), M. T. Suortti (1), S. H. D. Hulleman (3), and K. S. Poutanen (1). (1) VTT Biotechnology and Food Research, PO Box 1500, FIN-02044 VTT, Finland. (2) Corresponding author. Phone: +358 9 456 7146. Fax: +358 9 455 2103. E-mail: <Marianna.Lauro@vtt.fi> (3) ATO-DLO, PO Box 17, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands. Cereal Chem. 76(6):925-930. Accepted August 23, 1999. Copyright 1999 American Association of Cereal Chemists, Inc.

The alpha-amylolysis of large (volume average 16 m) barley starch granules was studied by measuring the amount of carbohydrates solubilizing during hydrolysis, and the changes in morphology and molecular structure of the granule residues by scanning electron microscopy, particle-size analysis, size-exclusion chromatography, X-ray diffraction, and differential scanning calorimetry. X-ray diffraction showed that, in the earlier stages of alpha-amylolysis, both amorphous and crystalline parts of the granules were equally solubilized. More extensive hydrolysis caused a gradual decrease in A-type crystallinity and degradation of the granular structure. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that hydrolysis proceeded through pinholes, and pitted and partially hollow granule residues were formed. The lipid-complexed amylose was less susceptible to alpha-amylolysis than free amylose and amylopectin. Lipid-complexed amylose started leaching out of the granule residues only after half of the starch had solubilized due to the alpha-amylase treatment. Even though scanning electron microscopy indicated that there were intact granules left throughout the hydrolysis, the results obtained suggested that alpha-amylolysis of large barley starch granules proceeded rather evenly among the granules.