Morphological and Structural Aspects of α-Glucan Particles from Electron Microscopy Observations
Jean-Luc Putaux
“Electron microscopy techniques have played a significant role in the characterization of α(1,4)-linked, α(1,6)-branched glucan samples, especially native particles such as those of starch or glycogen for visualizing their morphological and ultrastructural details at different length scales. The present chapter focuses on technical aspects of sample preparation and observation of various types of native and recrystallized α-glucan particles, by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The constraints specific to each imaging technique are described, illustrated by several examples and emphasizing the importance of controlling the radiation dose and the sample hydration to observe such sensitive specimens. Recent results from the literature are reviewed and we give practical recommendations to record well-resolved images of these glucan particles with meaningful structural details.”
In “Enzymology of Complex Alpha-Glucans” Edited by Felix Nitschke CRC Press, 2021, Chap. 1, pp. 1-17
https://doi.org/10.1201/b22412
Table of contents of the book:
- 1. Morphological and Structural Aspects of α-Glucan Particles from Electron Microscopy Observations (J.-L. Putaux)
- 2. Polarimetric Nonlinear Microscopy of Starch Granules: Visualization of the Structural Order of α-Glucan Chains within a Native Starch Particle (D. Tokarz, R. Cisek, V. Barzda)
- 3. Analyses of Covalent Modifications in α-Glucans (F. Nitschke, P. Schmieder)
- 4. Storage Polysaccharide Metabolism in Micro-Organisms (C. Colleoni)
- 5. Mammalian Glycogen Metabolism: Enzymology, Regulation, and Animal Models of Dysregulated Glycogen Metabolism (B.A. Pederson)
- 6. The Pathologies of a Dysfunctional Glycogen Metabolism (M.A. Sullivan, B.A. Minassian, F. Nitschke)
- 7. Reversible Phosphorylation in Glycogen and Starch (K.J. Donohue, A. Kuchtova, C.W. Vander Kooi, M.S. Gentry)
- 8. Starch Granules and their Glucan Components (E. Bertoft)
- 9. Regulation of Assimilatory Starch Metabolism by Cellular Carbohydrate Status (M.G. Annunziata, J.E. Lunn)
- 10. Reserve Starch Metabolism (Y. Nakamura)
- 11. Heteromeric Protein Interactions in Starch Synthesis (M.J. Emes, G.J. MacNeill, I.J. Tetlow)
