title: Evaluation of Structure and Assembly of Xyloglucan from Tamarind Seed (Tamarindus indicaL.) with Atomic Force Microscopy.
abstract: The role of xyloglucan (XG) in the cell wall of plants and its technological usability depends on several factors, pertaining to molecular structure. Therefore, the goal of this study was to evaluate the nano-structure and self-assembly of XG by atomic force microscopy (AFM). As the model, a non-modified xyloglucan from a tamarind seed (Tamarindus indicaL.) was used. Samples were minimally processed, i.e., treated with low-power ultrasound and studied on the surface of mica in ambient butanol. AFM topographic images revealed rod-like nanomolecules of xyloglucan with a mean height of 2.3 ± 0.5 nm and mean length of 640 ± 360 nm. The AFM study also showed that XG chains possessed a helical structure with a period of 115.8 ± 29.2 nm. This study showed possible-bending of molecules with a mean angle of 127.8 ± 25.6°. The xyloglucan molecules were able to aggregate as cross-like and a parallel like assemblies, and possibly as rope-like structures. The self-assembled bundles of xyloglucan chains were often complexed at an angle of 114.2 ± 36.3°.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Agrophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Doswiadczalna 4, 20-290 Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Arkadiusz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kozioł
authors.affiliation: Institute of Agrophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Doswiadczalna 4, 20-290 Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Justyna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cybulska
authors.affiliation: Institute of Agrophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Doswiadczalna 4, 20-290 Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Pieczywek
authors.affiliation: Institute of Agrophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Doswiadczalna 4, 20-290 Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Artur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zdunek
keywords: AFM; Nanostructure; Tamarind seeds; Xyloglucan