Amylose (CAS# 9005-82-7) is a linear polymer of glucose linked with mainly α(1→4) bonds. It can be made of several thousands of glucose units. It is one of the two components of starch, the other being amylopectin. CAS registry numbers are unique numerical identifiers for chemical compounds, polymers, biological sequences, mixtures and alloys. ... Polymer is a term used to describe molecules consisting of structural units and a large number of repeating units connected by covalent chemical bonds. ... Glucose (Glc), a monosaccharide (or simple sugar), is one of the most important carbohydrates in biology. ... Starch is a complex carbohydrate which is insoluble in water, it is used by plants as a way to store excess glucose. ... Amylopectin is a highly branched polymer of glucose found in plants. ...

Amylose structure

The α(1→4) bonds promote the formation of a helix structure. The structural formula of amylose is pictured at right. The number of repeated glucose subunits (n) can be many thousands (usually in the range of 300 and 3000). Image File history File links Amylose. ... Image File history File links Amylose. ... A helix (pl: helices), from the Greek word έλικας/έλιξ, is a twisted shape like a spring, screw or a spiral staircase. ... Many chemical compounds, especially hydrocarbons, can exist in different geometric configurations. ...

Amylose starch is less readily digested than amylopectin. However it takes up less space so is preferred for storage in plants; it is how about 80% of the starch in plants is stored. The digestive enzyme amylase works on the ends of the starch molecule, breaking it down into sugars. Starch is a complex carbohydrate which is insoluble in water, it is used by plants as a way to store excess glucose. ... Amylopectin is a highly branched polymer of glucose found in plants. ... α-Amylase Amylase (EC 3. ...

Iodine molecules fit neatly inside the helical structure of amylose, binding with the starch polymer, causing it to absorb certain wavelengths of light. Hence, a common test for starch is to mix it with a small amount of yellow iodine solution. In the presence of amylose a blue-black colour will be observed. The intensity of the colour can be tested with a colorimeter using a red filter, to indicate the concentration of starch present in the solution. General Name, Symbol, Number iodine, I, 53 Chemical series halogens Group, Period, Block 17, 5, p Appearance violet-dark gray, lustrous Atomic mass 126. ... A colorimeter is generally any tool that characterizes colour samples to provide an objective measure of colour characteristics. ...

High-amylose varieties of rice have a much lower glycemic load which could be beneficial for diabetics. The Glycemic load (GL) is a ranking system for carbohydrate content in food portions based on their Glycemic index (GI) and the portion size. ... This article is about the disease that features high blood sugar. ...

See also

• glycemic load

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