Revealing the Compact Structure of Lactic Acid Bacterial Heteroexopolysaccharides by SAXS and DLS

Biomacromolecules. 2017 Mar 13;18(3):747-756. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.6b01597. Epub 2017 Feb 13.

Abstract

Molecular structures of exopolysaccharides are required to understand their functions and the relationships between the structure and physical and rheological properties. Small-angle X-ray scattering and dynamic light scattering were used in conjunction with molecular modeling to characterize solution structures of three lactic acid bacterial heteroexopolysaccharides (HePS-1, HePS-2, and HePS-3). Values of radius of gyration RG, cross-sectional radius of gyration RXS, approximate length L, and hydrodynamic diameter were not directly proportional to the molar mass and indicated the HePSs adopted a compact coil-like rather than an extended conformation. Constrained molecular modeling of 15000 randomized HePS-1 conformers resulted in five best-fit structures with R factor of 3.9-4.6% revealing random coil-like structure. Φ and Ψ angle analysis of glycosidic linkages in HePS-1 structures suggests Galf residues significantly influence the conformation. Ab initio scattering modeling of HePS-2 and HePS-3 gave excellent curve fittings with χ2 of 0.43 and 0.34 for best-fit models, respectively, compatible with coil-like conformation. The findings disclose solution behavior of HePS relevant for their interactions with biomacromolecules, for example, milk proteins.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Dynamic Light Scattering*
  • Hydrodynamics
  • Lactobacillaceae / chemistry*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Molecular Weight
  • Polysaccharides / chemistry*
  • Scattering, Small Angle*
  • Solutions

Substances

  • Polysaccharides
  • Solutions