Plenary Lecture

The Principles of Starch Gelatinization and Retrogradation

Professor Emeritus Masakuni Tako
Health and Longevity Research Laboratory
Integrated Innovation Research Center
University of the Ryukyus
Nishihara, Okinawa
Japan
E-mail: tako@eve.u-ryukyu.ac.jp

Abstract: We have investigated gelatinization and retrogradation mechanism of starch (rice, potato and wheat) in proceeding papers. Gelatinization might occur after formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonding between O-6 of the amylose and OH-2 of the amylopectin molecules. The short side-chains (A and B1), which are free from intramolecular hydrogen bonding, of amylopectin molecules might take part in the intermolecular association. On the retrogradation process, another intermolecular association might take place between OH-2 of the former molecule and O-6 of the latter molecule. The starch molecules (amylose and amylopectin) in water changed into ice-like structure with hydrogen bonding in part between polymer and water molecules, and between water molecules even at concentration range of 2.0-4.0% (w/v) at room temperature, because of a little high kinetic energy of short side-chains (A and B1) of amylopectin molecules. Starch molecules played a dominant role in the center of the tetrahedral cavities occupied by water molecules, the arrangement of which was very nearly a tetrahedral ice-like structure and should lead to a cooperative effect stabilizing extended regions of ice-like water with hydrogen bonding on the surface of the polymer molecules, in which hemiacetal oxygen and hydroxyl groups might participate in hydrogen bonding with water molecules, and more extended ice-like hydrogen bonding through water molecules might be achieved on retrogradation process.

Brief Biography of the Speaker: Masakuni Tako: Male, Carbohydrate Bio-physical Chemist, dropped out Graduate School of Kyushu University, Doctoral Course in Food Science and Technology in 1975. He worked for University of the Ryukyus in 1982. He has published 120 papers and got 2 items of awards. His academic fields are structure-function relationship of polysaccharides and development of industrially functional polysaccharides from bio-resources. He has also published 4 books on Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert, Brahms, Liszt, Van’t Hoff, Emil Fischer, Max Planck, Walther Nernst, Svante Arrhenius, Umetarou Suzuki, Han von Euler-Chelpin, and Danji Nomura, the last 8 scientists of which are his academic great grandfather (6), grandfather (1) and father (1). He is retired in 2012 and now director of Health and Longevity Research Laboratory, Integrated Innovation Research Center, University of the Ryukyus.

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